The Last Breath
Chapter Four: My Mysterious Knight in Shining Armor
He was in my dreams all night long. Jasper Hale; an Adonis with gold eyes that change color, honey-blonde hair and mesmerizing eyes that would put Prince Charming to shame. His southern accent rang throughout my head. The feeling of his strong grip on my shoulders remained there, never going away. In truth, I didn't want it to; it isn't anything that I understand.
There was something about him that just wasn't right. I honestly don't know anybody whose eyes change color. Hell, I don't know anyone who even has gold eyes.
Everything about him was so strange! People shouldn't be that beautiful. Why would he save me from Lauren and Jessica? Why did he get so mad when I pointed out his eyes? Why didn't he speak to me at first?
Who knows anything, really? 'Cause I sure as hell don't have the faintest clue.
My stupid, annoying, blaring alarm clock interrupted my semi-peaceful dreaming. With a groan I searched for the snooze button with my right hand. When I could not find it, I swept my hand forcefully across the nightstand, knocking the damned thing to the floor. The sounding of the crash made me sit straight up, eyes wide.
Well, I didn't mean to do that.
"Bells? Are you alright?" My dad poked his head in the room. As he caught sight of the alarm clock, he raised an eyebrow in question.
"Um, sorry about that. I got kind of irritated so… I uh, yeah," I attempted to explain. He looked amused now, replacing the confusion.
"Okay then," he looked back up to me, "I brought you some coffee; thought you might need it. Here" He handed me a mug that I hadn't noticed. I immediately gulped it down, ignoring the burn.
"I have to head down to the station early. I'll be back a little late tonight, about 10. We have some weird animal killing people. So far, there are two victims."
"Okay, Dad."
"Alright, bye, kiddo."
"Bye, Dad."
Right before he closed my bedroom door, he stopped suddenly and called back, "Oh, and be careful for me, will you?"
"Yes, Dad, I'll be careful, Dad." With that, he turned and left.
I was getting pretty good at this Dad thing. I continued to chug down the steaming hot coffee. The coffee was gone right when I heard the engine of Ch- Dad's cruiser starting up and slowly decreasing before it disappeared in the distance.
The mug of coffee didn't help as much as I'd hoped for. Since my clock had become unplugged, I reached for my phone. It was only 7:18am. I had plenty of time so maybe a nice shower would wake me up.
With a sigh, I got up, stretched out my stiff muscles and walked over to my closet. It was raining, (shocking!) so I took a pair of jeans, a hooded sweatshirt, and a long-sleeved gray shirt. Then, I walked to my dresser and pulled out my socks and my toiletries bag, and shuffled to the bathroom.
When I looked in the mirror, I nearly screamed. I look like a zombie! I had dark circles under my eyes and my hair looked like some mutant bird was living in it with 10 foot baby chicks! I'm sure I didn't toss that much. I mean, come on! How the fuck did I end up like this?!
Ugh! I started praying that my conditioner could work some magic on my hair, like bipidy-bopidy-boo!
I hopped in the hot shower and let the streams of water pour onto my back. It was relaxing and even woke me up somewhat.
As I stood in front of the mirror now, I was relieved to see that the conditioner did help... a lot! Thank God! I don't think I was ready to go to school looking like an undead drowsy creature with an overstated afro.
Somehow, I managed to get dressed, brush my teeth, eat my breakfast, and still have time to spare. It was now 8:00. My book bag was packed, homework finished, shoes and coat on, and I was headed to my truck.
I decided to make a stop at the post office to drop off a post card for my mom. After I had it sent out, I finally drove to the school.
Few vehicles were in the parking lot like yesterday. Angela was standing by her car waving to me. Smiling to myself, I parked beside her. I got out and walked the 2 feet that were between us.
"I take it that you didn't sleep too well," she stated. "You look really tired."
"I feel tired too, probably because I am tired." She rolled her eyes and glance around her. Her eyes stopped searching and her body tensed. I followed her gaze and saw what she was looking at. Lauren.
"How am I supposed to go through today without somehow running into her? With my luck, I'll most likely literally run into her."
"True. I've only known you for less than 24 hours and I already know that you are incredibly unfortunate," Angela agreed.
"That's an understatement."
"It doesn't matter. I will try my best to keep her out of your path and vice versa, but I can't make any promises. Knowing them, they'll try to come up with a way."
"Thank you, Angela. You are a great friend," I told her with a smile.
The bell rang then. We followed through our morning schedule. Thankfully, the beginning passed by rather quickly. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch. Angela and I dropped off our books and then headed to the cafeteria.
When we were in the lunch line, Angela leaned over towards me and spoke quietly. "I promised Ben that I would help him with his assignment. Do you think that you'll be okay for today without me?"
No, I won't. "Sure, I'll be okay," I assured her. Maybe I will be okay. I just won't sit with Lauren or Jessica. I won't even sit anywhere near them. She gave me a smile, paid for her lunch, and started to walk out.
"Hey, Angela, do you think I might be able to come? Not to intrude or anything, but..." I trailed off at the end, not knowing how to finish the sentence. She thought it over for a minute and nodded. I bought my lunch then followed her out of the room. Since I didn't know my way around the school that well, I took note of where the classrooms were and what their numbers were. On the left side of the hall near the end, she turned.
I followed her into a larger room that looked like the library. Sure enough, there was Ben Cheney who was waiting for her. He looked to be about 5'7 with black hair and dark brown eyes. He was much shorter than Angela, but wasn't she taller than most?
Ben smiled at her when he saw us walk into the media center. Angela smiled right back and sat in the chair beside him. She motioned for me to sit in the chair on her other side, which I did.
The two of them talked quietly while I ate my lunch just thinking. Sometime during the middle, I had to use the restroom. I stood up and got out of my chair.
When I turned around, I bumped into... Jasper. He turned around and looked at me confused. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at lunch?"
"Yes, I am. But so are you," I replied with an indifferent shrug.
"Do you always run into people, or am I your only target?" Jasper had an amused look on his face.
"So far, you are the only one, at least so far." He chuckled as he shook his head. "Only you, Isabella, only you," he muttered.
I gave him my best glare. "It's Bella, Jasper. I prefer Bella."
"My apologies, Bella. How do you know my name?"
"Same reason you know mine."
"Ah, yes. The common obsession of gossip."
"Precisely. Apparently, that little event had caused quite some gossip. In fact, from what I have heard, it is the main topic. Thank you, Jasper." I said the last part softly and quieter. I knew that even though I wasn't specific, he knew that I was talking about yesterday when he saved me from Lauren and Jessica. Jasper looked down at me. "You don't have to thank me, Bella."
"I do! Jasper, if it weren't for you, I'd be beaten or maybe even killed. How would I know what they were going to do?"
"It's fine." At that moment, a shrill sound emitting from the bell interrupted our conversation. "See you in Biology," he waved and then walked out.
I stood there gaping after him, still shocked. Well, I'll be damned!
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I picked up my tray. Angela and I headed back to the cafeteria. Now, I had to go to the restroom really super bad. I sped walked to the girls' restroom.
I entered the Biology room which was starting to get loud. Jasper was sitting in his seat with his hood hiding his face again. I walk over to my seat and plop myself down. He doesn't move at all.
With my hand, I reach over to pull down his hood. He looks at me in surprise before he starts to chuckle.
"What's so funny?" I ask incredulously. He shook his head and answered, "Nothing, I just wasn't expecting that."
"Sorry, I just didn't want to be lab partners with a sweatshirt. I'd much rather talk to you." Who is a very beautiful, tall, handsome blonde with a southern twang that could make butter melt and- shut the fuck up, you dip wad!
Sometimes my rational part tends to get a little mouthy and gains a smart ass attitude. If that part of me wasn't just some mental voice, I'd murder it in its sleep!
Did he just smirk at me?! Oh, no, that doesn't sit well with me!
"Who the hell are you smirking at?"
"Darlin', I think it's pretty obvious. I was smirkin' at you, pretty thang," he answered with that southern accent. I felt my face heat up as blood rushed to my face. That just seemed to cause his smirk to expand. My fingers twitched with a very strong urge to wipe that smirk off of his gorgeous face.
Today the window was open again. The wind picked up, blowing one of my papers to the floor. We both bent down to pick it up at the same time. Our fingers touched for the smallest fraction of a second. His hand is so cold!
How have I not noticed that before? The only other time our skin has actually come in contact was when he helped me up from the ground yesterday. I guess I was just too shook up to notice it. Damn! Maybe it's poor circulation? Holy hells!
A small gasp escaped my gaping lips. His hand instantly backed away from mine. He picked the paper up and handed it to me quickly.
"You're hand it really cold. I mean really cold. What did you do, stick your hand in the freezer for an hour?"
His eyes once again darkened noticeably. "Your eyes..." I started but stopped when they turned jet black. Shit.
The rest of Biology passed slowly. When the time for gym arrived, I hopped out of my seat and made a mad dash for the door. A hand caught the back of my shirt before I could fall, which was very likely to happen.
I turned to look up at Jasper who was staring at me with regret in his eyes. What could he possibly regret?
"Forgive me, Bella," he said. "May I escort you to gym?"
All I was capable of was a nod. He smiled down at me and guided me out the door and through the crowded hallway.
The pair of us walked beside each other in a comfortable silence. Strange how I felt so comfortable and calm around him. It felt... right. I didn't think anything could ever hurt me because he was here, and I didn't understand it at all. I was beyond confused and maybe even a little dazed. Jasper's presence did something to me, something that was not in my power to explain. I felt a tug in my chest that seemed to pull in the direction of him. If I had the faintest idea as to why everything was the way it was, my head wouldn't be throbbing with questions right now.
We walked through the doors to the gymnasium. Nearly everyone was staring at us while the rest glared. I felt a bit intimidated under their gazes. Jasper put a comforting hand on the small of my back.
Both of us parted to go to the locker rooms. I changed as quickly as I could and rushed out the door. I spotted Jasper who was already changed and warming up. He met my gaze. His eyes bore into mine as if they were searching my soul.
As I started walking in his direction, Mike popped in front of me. My attention was automatically adverted to him.
"Hey, Bella."
"What, Mike," I replied.
"Well, you see, I was wondering if you'd like to go to the spring dance with me. I mean I know that it's like 2 months away, but I just wanted to see if you would like to go?" He sounded uncertain and hesitant, like he wasn't sure if I'd accept.
How do you turn someone down without hurting their feelings? You can't, dumb ass!
Damn. Here goes nothing.
Holy mother of a shit storm! Don't look at the eyes, don't look at the eyes, don't you dare look at those pleading eyes...
"Um, I don't think that's the, uh, I mean I doubt I can, uh, what I meant was that I can't. I am busy that day, um, yeah. Real smooth, Bella." I muttered the last three words too low for him to hear. Jasper was close enough to hear our conversation. I heard him snicker. I shot him a glare and he stopped instantly.
"Look, Mike, I know that Jessica really wants to go with you. Maybe you should ask her."
Nice fix.
'Wasn't it?' I thought with an internal smile.
Mike looked surprised at the news, yet somewhat happy. "Thanks." I watched as he jogged to Jessica who had been watching the whole thing.
When I looked back, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Jasper was standing right in front of me. Coach Clapp blew the whistle.
Today was individual practice. Jasper ran over to a basket and began to shoot hoops. Every single one of them was perfect. None of them touched the rim or the backboard. Damn.
I walked over to a different basket with a ball and stared open-mouthed at it. There was no way in hell that I was going to be able to make that basket. It looked too high up. I must have gaped at it for over 5 minutes.
Suddenly, I felt two cool hands wrap over my arms and place themselves over mine. This time, I was prepared for the freezing touch. What I wasn't prepared for was the zap of electricity that flowed down my spine and to my hands, which were now tingling. Whoa.
He leaned down and whispered in my ear. "Keep your eyes on the basket. Relax. Focus and... Shoot!" He took my left hand away from the ball while he made my right hand push the ball away from us. Miraculously, the ball mad it through the hoop, almost as perfectly as he did it.
I turned around and looked at him as the basketball dropped to the ground. He started to say something but stopped short when I stared into the depths of his golden eyes. Again, they changed to a golden-brown color.
My mouth went completely dry and my skin now had goose bumps. His hands were still touching mine. As I noticed this, my blood flowed to my face and my blush decided to rear its ugly head. That snapped him out of whatever trance that he was in.
Jasper dropped his hands and patted me on the shoulder in encouragement. "Try it yourself, now."
Reluctantly, I did what he asked and tried to shoot on my own. Without his strong hands, I was nothing. The ball bounced off the rim and was about to hit me in the head. Jasper, of course, came to my rescue. He wrapped both arms around my stomach, lifted me up, and side stepped the basketball before it could hit me.
He set me down and turned me around to face him.
"You really are a danger magnet, aren't cha, darlin'?" He shook his head with a shit-eating grin stuck on his face. I rolled my eyes but agreed. "You haven't seen anything yet. Wait until you see me dancing. You would be a living bowling pin if you were anywhere within a half mile radius."
"Was that an invitation, sweet cheeks?" He asked suggestively.
My face turned scarlet red. "NO, no, um, uh...I, uh, um..." I stuttered. God! I wish I was dead! I wish the floor would open up and swallow me up.
The bell saved me from any more embarrassment that was bound to come. I ran as fast as I could without tripping or falling flat on my face to the girls' locker room. I got dressed, grabbed my book bag, and dashed out the gym door and onto the parking lot, not looking where I was going. I made it to my truck. I threw my book bag in and stood by the door as I tried to catch my breath.
The sound of a blaring horn made my head snap up. I saw Tyler's blue Chevy Astro van skidding, coming barreling towards me. I was going to die! I was about to be crushed by this vehicle! It was so close to me now. I had no more than a few more seconds of life. Those seconds seemed to go by slowly, as if fate was teasing me, wanting me to watch every second of my death.
Just before it was about to crush me, I heard a frantic roar the sounded so close, yet so far away. An arm slid under me while the other reached in front of us and stopped the van from killing me. Blonde hair blocked my view. When my eyes focused themselves, I found myself staring back at the face of an angel.