(A/N: Here's the next chapter! Remember it's jasper now, not Emmett. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW. Or don't – and see how long it takes me to update without inspiration. Dun dun dun. Okay, that was kind of evil, I'll admit.)
I would have posted this last night but fanfiction wouldn't allow me to log on to my account.
sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes. I didn't get a chance to fix them.
(Disclaimer – I don't own twilight, new moon, eclipse, or any of their characters. Stephenie meyer does)
I pushed the door open to the room that detention was being held to find two people had gotten there ahead of me. Edward Cullen, and Jasper – the boy Jenn had been asked to guide around the school.
They sat in seats right next to each other in the center of the room, and I ignored the fact that their whispers quieted as I entered the room. I walked up to the front of the classroom where the principal sat at his desk. Papers were scattered messily over the desk and his chair was wooden and old. He looked up at me in surprise.
"Isabella Swan?" He sounded shocked, almost appalled.
"Hello Mr.Warston." I said glumly.
"You have a detention?" He asked in that same disapproving tone, looking taken aback. I nodded my head slowly and solemnly. I handed him the detention slip, and he observed it quickly. "Talking in class! Heavens, I never thought of you to be such a chatter box!" He grumbled something else under his breath before nodding his head in the directions of the seats, a hint for me to sit down.
I walked down the aisles and took the seat as from the two as possible. I didn't know Jasper so there was no point in sitting next to him. And I now officially hate Edward so it would just be plain stupid to be within ten feet of him. Even being in the same room as him was maddening.
I dropped my back pack beside the seat I chose. It was close to the window, so I could just spend the entire class staring out at the gray sky and the green trees that gave the horizon a jagged line.
As soon as I was in my seat Mr.Warston cleared his throat.
"I have to say, I am rather disappointed with you three. Isabella, never a detention in your life!" He mumbled something incoherent. I made out the word "disappointed," and frowned. "Jasper and Edward, my lord! It's only your first day at Forks High. I'm hoping this isn't indicating any future problems in this school year." He gave them a stern look, demanding that they assure him otherwise.
"No sir." They said in unison. Mr.Warston looked at them sharply.
"You may do homework, or read. Because this group is so small –" he gave all of us another wary look "–I suppose you may talk amongst yourselves. Quietly." He warned. Then be brought his attention back to the crossword puzzle I had seen on the untidy desk.
I may have taken advantage of Mr.Warston's permission to talk if there had been someone in this room – anyone – other than the two I had gotten stuck with. So I simply turned my head to the window, as I had planned.
The window overlooked the faculty parking lot, but in the distance I could see the massive and ominous forests. I had a whole hour to pass, and this view wasn't going to be entertaining for quite that long. After about fifteen minutes I began worrying how I was going to occupy myself once the scene before me was etched with perfect detail into my mind, and then I heard the humming of Jasper and Edward speaking again.
Well, this surely would be more interesting then the rain-obscured picture before me. I pretended to continue staring absent-mindedly as I listened in on their conversation. I had never been one to eavesdrop, but I was bored and if it hadn't been for Cullen, I wouldn't be here in the first place. My justification was good enough for me, so I focused intently on the words they were whispering, immediately wishing I had sat closer to them. With some concentration I could understand what they were saying in their soft voices.
"She hates me. She hates everything about me." Edward informed Jasper, and I just barely refrained from chortling in agreement. I could picture them both shooting cautious glances at me, thinking I was entirely unaware of the conversation they were having about me.
"Oh, come on Mr.Pessimist, she can't possibly abhor you that much." His brother quietly spoke. His tone was strangely soothing, and even I felt somewhat comforted.
"No, Jasper you don't get it. She. Hates. Me. You should she way she looks – glares – at me. It's like she's hoping maybe I'll poof away – preferably to hell to burn." Jasper chuckled at Edward's malignant way of depicting how I felt towards him. "I was sure I had done it when I got her a detention. She practically moved her seat to the other side of the room." I could hear the frown in his voice. Jasper remained silent. "I caught up with her after class, and she was nicer – sort of. But she walked in here and didn't look at me once. She even sat as far away as possible. I didn't know anyone could loathe so strongly."
"Do you know why she hates you?" Jasper asked, and I noticed his voice and Edward's were both velvet smooth and honey sweet.
"She definitely didn't strive to make it any secret." Edward muttered indignantly.
"Well…?" Jasper prompted.
"I hate populars. I hate rich, athletic players who get whatever and whoever they want." He quoted me sourly. "She thinks I'm just some loaded pretty-boy."
Jasper was quiet for a moment, and then his tone was thoughtful. "Well, then go over there and talk to her. Convince her you're not." My heart stopped in alarm and then picked up twice as fast as before. My face drained and I glared, my lips pulled down at the corners and my eyes squinted angrily. Edward would stay away, or he would regret it.
"Are you crazy?" Edward asked his brother, clearly in true question of his brother's sanity. As much as I hated to admit it, I agreed with Edward entirely. Had Jasper listened to a single word his brother had told him? Had Edward not forewarned him of my odium? "I am not going over there."
"If you don't, then I will. She looks lonely. And I'm pretty sure she could hear every word we've said."
I brought my head just a little bit lower as the color returned bright and livid on my cheeks. Of course, they couldn't actually prove I'd been listening in, but the fact that Jasper assumed this – and was right, embarrassed me.
"You wouldn't."
I heard pure silence for a moment – other than the scribbling of Mr.Warstons pencil on the crossword puzzle. I could picture in my head Edward staring in disbelief at his brother, trying to determine whether Jasper was bluffing or not.
There was a loud screech that I could only assume to be the sound of Jasper pushing his chair away from the desk – proving he was serious about confronting me.
"You're going to get us both killed. Sit down!" Edward hissed at his brother. Jasper took no notice to his brothers' demands; I could hear his quiet steps down the aisle.
"Jasper!" Edward pleaded, but Jaspers near silent steps continued. I held my breath as the steps got closer, only five seconds away. I tried to calm down. It wasn't like he was some crazy serial killer with a dagger he planned to plunge into my heart. But why is he coming over here? I have no quarrel with him; I haven't uttered a single word to or about him. I panicked slightly, unsure of what his reason was for approaching me so suddenly, and so seemingly randomly. I was comforted slightly when I remembered what Jenn had said about Jasper. 'He's really funny and sweet.' She had said. 'He talks about his family a lot, he really loves them.'
I let out the nervous breath I'd been holding as I remembered that Jenn seemed to think he was okay. And though I was relieved some, it still startled me when I felt Jasper tap my shoulder. I jumped from my seat, and almost fell onto the ground.
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you." He smiled and I was immediately less anxious.
"I'm fine." I assured him, and I could feel Edward's incredulous eyes on us.
"Would you mind if I sat here?" He gesticulated at the seat beside me.
I nodded that it was fine.
Jasper gracefully sat down, and it awed me how lithe his movements were. He smiled again when he noticed how I was staring at him in wonder. My cheeks turned a gentle pink.
"You're Jennifer's sister, right?" I felt like his words were melted together into a harmony, and it befuddled me.
"Uh, yeah. She's my sister." I answered when my head was clear again.
"I'm Jasper Hale." He held out his hand and I shook it. His hands were soft, much like a babies.
"Bella." I said simply.
"Would you mind if I asked you something, Bella?" He spoke formally, the way Edward had. I began to wonder if their adoptive parents had put them through some fancy speech class.
I was hesitant to agree to his request, I was sure it would be Edward-related. "I suppose. If I get to ask you a question in return."
He smiled again. It was a full beautiful smile, showing all of his perfect white teeth. "Certainly." I nodded for him to proceed and ask me his question. "Who do you think knows you the best?"
That question caught me off guard. I was positive he would ask me something about the hate I directed at his brother.
My brows puckered, puzzled at why he would ask me this. But he was still waiting for an answer, so I replaced my confused expression with one of thought. Who knows me the best? Well, I wasn't really close with many people. Charlie was kind of a quiet person, not one for sharing feelings. But Jenn had always been there for me. She was my big sister and she knows me inside and out. There was no debate that she knew every aspect about me – the way I looked at things, my likes and dislikes, the way I would react to something. I knew her in the same way.
"Jenn."
Jasper smiled again, and I was vaguely aware that Edward was listening in and staring at us in perplexity. "I thought you would say that. You do know that your sister was chosen to accompany me around the school today?"
I realized that he was asking me more than one question, but decided not to acknowledge it.
"Yeah."
"She said a lot about you. You two must be close." I was a little mortified. What had Jenn said about me? Was it humiliating? Endearing? Overly-dramatic? But I was more curious in where he was going with this than what Jenn had said about me. I tilted my head, hinting that I didn't understand what he was getting at.
"We are." I finally answered. I began to acknowledge that I needed to start saying more than two-word replies.
"She said that you weren't judgmental." I frowned, understanding what he was indicating.
"I don't mean to offend you, but how well do you really know my brother? Your assumptions about him were a little condemnatory." Out of the corner of my eye I could see a look of horror on Edwards' face that I recognized. It was the same expression I could feel washing over my features whenever my older sibling would stand up for me unasked.
I didn't know what to say to Jasper. Should I pretend I hadn't heard? Should I deny his accusation of me being judgmental? Should I try and explain to him – tell him why I acted the way I did? Tell him that this was just me being precautious? And after I did whatever I chose to do, would he be angry with me? He seemed perfectly at ease right now, but I didn't want to upset him for insulting his brother.
"Jenn said you didn't like to argue." He said, reading the conflict on my features. "Please calm down, I'm not angry with you."
And I did. I calmed down. I don't know how to explain it, but I suddenly matched the same ease Jasper had.
"You can ask your question now." Jasper encouraged smoothly.
I sat there a little dumbfounded and drawn back. When I had negotiated with the question asking I hadn't actually had a question in mind. I sifted through my mind, trying to come up with an adequate question to ask him.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" I asked, before I had even thought through what I was saying. Once my words caught up with my mind I wanted to hide in a corner. I envisioned myself at that moment, turning into an actual tomato from blushing such a deep red color.
Edward looked utterly shocked and Jasper looked very, very amused. Neither of these responses helped tame the blazing scarlet on my face.
Jasper's amused expression slipped into an amused smile and his surprisingly light-blue eyes twinkled.
Why, Bella, why? Why did you ask that?
I knew the answer of course. I had recalled Jenn saying that she really liked Jasper, I was simply trying to do her a favor. However, it didn't look that way to Jasper or Edward. Or Mr.Warston, whose full attention was now on me.
I could tell that I was frozen in my seat, which was strange considering that my face was alive with color.
Jasper chuckled. "No, I don't."
I was even more humiliated when he actually answered my question. I think he could tell.
"There is no need to be embarrassed. And although you do look lovely when you blush, the state of redness on your face is making me nervous."
I turned my head to hide my face.
"Do you hate my brother?" He asked after a moment. I didn't answer.
"Do you hate me?"
I turned back to him. I shook my head. He smiled a friendly smile.
And then Edward growled
"Alright, that's enough. I want silence for the last twenty minutes." Mr.Warston ordered. I was eternally grateful to him. I needed to sort my head and I wasn't sure how much more mortification I could endure.
I slowly turned my head away from Jasper and turned my eyes back to the window, not really looking at what was outside.
What had just happened?
I had unintentionally hit on Jasper, the brother of the boy I hate. As if that wasn't controversial enough Jasper was the boy my sister says she likes. On top of that, Jasper had said I looked lovely. And Edward growled when I said I didn't hate his brother.
I was used to staying on the sidelines, drama was not one of my specialties, and I was thankful for that. But now, I found myself confused and drama was omnipresent. My brain was being twisted and my heart was pounding and I really needed to leave this room. The calmness emanating off of Jasper was shadowed by the pervading antagonism from Edward. And my luck wasn't running out there. No, the bad luck clung, providing my little uncomfortable situation with my principal as an audience. Fifteen more minutes and I would be out of here. Fifteen more minutes to endure.
And then I felt a small flick against my arm. I turned to look at the side of my desk that Jasper was nearest. I looked at him quizzically, and he pointed to my desk. I looked down to find a small piece of folded paper. A note? This was so Junior High, however I couldn't cool the impatience to open it.
Why did you ask me that question?
P.S. when you blush after reading this, please don't turn away. You really do look lovely.
Of course, I did blush. I went to turn, until I remembered his request. I sighed, but obeyed, though I don't know why I did. I barely knew Jasper, why should I care at all what he says or thinks? But for some unknown reason, I did and I was just going to have to deal with that for now. I earnestly refused to tell him why I had asked him that. I would never risk Jasper knowing Jenn liked him, unless she wanted him to know.
I was kind of nervous to write a response in my messy hand writing. His script was so fluid and curvy and neat. My penmanship was the complete opposite of the beautiful boy who was currently waiting for my response. I looked over at him quickly and noticed he looked a bit embarrassed himself. It wasn't hard to guess why. When someone asks you question such as I did, it sort of has an implication – I'm interested in you. When you ask the person why they asked you that question, that too had something implied – Are you interested in me?
Just curious.
I wrote. It was a lot easier to lie when I didn't have to actually speak the words. I folded the paper into a small square. When I was sure the principal wasn't looking I tossed it onto his desk. Edward was still looking at us, and it made me slightly uncomfortable.
Jasper unfolded the sheet, looking thoughtful for a moment. I may have been imagining it, but he looked slightly disappointed.
He scrawled something down before folding the paper and flicking it back.
When it landed on my desk I noticed he had folded it into one of those small little footballs that all the guys used to play with at lunch when we were younger. I could never get those things open. This was going to be interesting. And most likely problematic.
I took the small triangle in my hand, trying to find the fissure that had the end of paper that I needed to start with. I was unsuccessful. I could feel Jasper getting a little impatient, as was I. I spent five minutes trying to unfold it before Jasper took it from his hands and unfolded it himself, making a show out of it. He placed it on my desk unfolded and smoothed out.
Oh, that makes sense.
The sarcasm was obvious. And I had to agree that it was kind of odd that someone would ask something like that from a random spur of curiosity. But that wasn't all he'd written so I just continued reading.
Am I the only one who feels Edward burning hole's in my back with his eyes?
I smiled without humor. I didn't like the dirty looks Edward was giving Jasper. I grabbed for my pen.
Yeah, what's with him?
I decided to play dumb, though I had a good idea of what Edward's dark mood was about.
Jasper seemed to know that I was playing dumb.
You know why.
I hardly knew Jasper, yet here we were, passing notes. Both of us clearly interested in one another. I was pretty sure my flirt-o-meter was about to explode. Part of my mind was screaming that I should stop right now. I had two very good reasons. The first one was that I had no idea who Jasper was. I wasn't clued in at all what he was like. For all I knew popularity runs in the family and he's just like Edward. Though, I strongly doubted that. Jasper was so different, in a good way. Even though I barely knew him I felt so comfortable here with him, passing notes like fifth graders. I liked being around him already.
But I knew that this was wrong. Jenn had said she likes Jasper. Jenn was my older sister, I loved her. And she had sort of claimed Jasper, which meant he was off limits.
And even though I knew both of these things, I couldn't bring myself to believe that this was wrong, because it didn't feel wrong. It felt uncannily right. And I wasn't going to give it up. I'll talk to Jenn about this later. Surely when she knows how perfect Jasper and I seem to be already she'll understand. I hope she understands.
I was so wrapped up in trying to validate my being attracted to Jasper that Mr.Warston dismissed us before I had a chance to write back to Jasper.
I put the note into my backpack so that Mr.Warston wouldn't find it carelessly discarded on the ground and use it as an excuse to give me another detention. I slung my back pack over one arm and began to walk out the classroom.
I was aware of Jasper following behind me, and Edward following hastily behind him. Mr.Warston remained in the room, probably still fixated with his crossword puzzle. As soon as we were out the class Jasper called my name.
I spun around to find him surprisingly close. "Yeah?" I said.
"See you tomorrow." He said in a tone so sweet it sounded like he was proposing. It flustered me.
"Uh… yeah. B-bye." I stuttered dazed.
He smiled, then grabbed my hand and kissed it. I was almost completely unaware of Edward who was fuming vehemently behind Jasper. He released my hand and smiled down at me before walking away. I stood there for a moment, my heart fluttering and my mind turning to soup.
(A/N: PLEASE READ. Okay, so I figure I better come up with a post-eclipse story. So I'm brainstorming about that. When/if I come up with an idea, I probably won't post it for another week or so, to give people a chance to read eclipse.
Oh yeah, this was like nine pages, and over 3,500 words!! Yay!
PLEASE REVIEW! REVIEW REIVEW REVIEW!)
