Notes: Thanks so much to all who reviewed :D I really appreciate it. If you have any ideas for further chapters (anything at all) there's a good chance I'll use them, and give you the credit for the idea, as I am always open to accepting help. Enjoy :D
--
Chapter 4, So Sublime
Jasper's POV
What the hell are you doing?! My mind was screaming. Send her back! Tell her to go back inside, for the safety of the both of you. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I know it would probably be the right thing to do, safer for her, and quite possibly safer for me. But the more selfish side of me ignored my moral side. One day, I would have to get these two together to work out their differences.
Ava seemed timid to come over to me. And I didn't blame her. I wasn't sure I'd want to come over to me either. But nevertheless, she did. Once she got up to me, neither of us knew what to say, or what to think. Instead, I just signaled for her to sit beside me on the grass. She did, almost immediately, after she made sure I was serious.
We sat, facing each other, for a little while, but not as long as we were staring at each other for. I knew I should be the first one to open my mouth, but I waited for the words to come to me first. When they did, I wasted no time.
"I'm truly sorry if I offended you with my rude behavior before, Ava." I nodded, and looked her in the eyes, to ensure she knew I was genuine. "I don't usually act like that, and it makes me feel worse that you think it has something to do with you. I'm very sorry. Please say you'll forgive me."
She looked at me incredulously, as if not forgiving me was some kind of joke.
"Of course I forgive you." She said in a calm voice. Slowly, she smiled. God, she was beautiful. I felt myself smile back. But the moment quickly ended, when I spotted Emmett sticking his head out the back door, grinning widely and giving me the thumbs-up. Child. I scowled.
Ava arched an eyebrow and looked over her shoulder, just as Emmett whipped back inside. She sighed.
I could see something was on her mind. Curiosity grasped me. I leaned back, trying to distract myself from her scent. It was driving me wild. I dug my fingers into the dirt as hard as I could. My knuckles went bone white. I struggled to smile again.
When she looked up at me from the ground, red tinged her cheeks again. She was embarrassed. I couldn't help but stare at her again. She looked even lovelier when the blood rushed to her cheeks. She was simply divine. But at the same time, it took all I was to stop from jumping her there and then.
Her heart fluttered, and I could hear the blood pumping through her veins. My mouth watered, and I swallowed nervously. I dug my fingers further into the grass, with such intensity it hurt.
Ava's POV
Moments past, and neither one of us knew what to say. It was the most awkward situation I'd ever been in. I was too terrified to move an inch, in case I did something that would unintentionally disgust Jasper. But staying still for so long became much too uncomfortable – I shifted my weight, and as I did, Jasper looked up from the grass and into my eyes. I froze again instantly. I noticed his expression seemed pained in some way – like he was being tortured. I frowned.
Jasper sniffed, and gave a small cough, before he too shifted his weight. He appeared uncomfortable also. I considered getting up and leaving – he was obviously too polite to tell me to go away. And I was about to get up, too, when he spoke to me in a calm, interested tone.
"I hope you're willing to allow me to start over." He smiled timidly. He hesitated, before he held his hand out for me to shake. "I'm Jasper Hale."
I couldn't help but smile as I took his hand, and shook it. The touch shocked me. It was like electricity passed through us. We both let go quickly.
"Ava." I replied softly. "Ava Whistler."
"Ava." He repeated, nodding his blonde head. "I haven't seen you around before today. You're new, I presume?"
I nodded.
"Yeah, I came here yesterday from Seattle."
"If you don't mind my asking, why did you come to Forks?"
I hesitated, as I stared into the eyes of this god. Despite how attracted and drawn to him I was, I wasn't sure if going into my life story was something I wanted to do so soon. It was personal, after all. Yet somehow, I couldn't stop the words from flowing.
"My parents were murdered." I looked at my hands as I spoke. "My uncle Charlie is the only living relative I have, so I had to come to Forks to live with him."
Jasper looked like he didn't expect me to tell him that either. His face held shock for a moment, but it soon gave out to sympathy. He reached a hand out to… comfort me, maybe? ... but stopped midway, and took his hand back.
"I'm sorry." He said softly. "That's got to be tough."
I nodded slowly, wanting desperately to get off this macabre subject.
"So what about you?" I looked at him. "I mean, Alice told me that you're all an adopted family. What happened to your parents?"
Jasper shifted his weight again – I couldn't tell whether he was uncomfortable in his position or uncomfortable about having to answer the question. I was about to take it back when he spoke.
"My parents died too, when I was eight years old. My twin sister Rosalie and I were sent to live with our Aunt Esme and Dr.Carlisle. But I guess it's not nearly as bad as losing your parents when you're old enough to understand what it means."
He smiled a little.
"So tell me more about yourself, Ava."
I gulped.
"What do you want to know?"
"Anything."
"I'm not a very interesting person." I warned.
Jasper shrugged.
"I'll survive."
I bit my bottom lip, searching for something to say.
"Why don't you tell me something you like?" He suggested.
"Well… I really like your hair." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them – and as soon as they were, I instantly wanted to take them back. I looked up at him sheepishly, expecting him to completely freak out. Instead, he merely looked amused. He arched an eyebrow.
"Well, that's a first." He smiled largely "Why on earth would you choose my hair as something you liked?"
I blushed horribly. I would have given anything to have the ground open up and swallow me whole. This could quite possibly have been one of the most embarrassing situations I'd ever been in.
"I dunno…" I whispered feebly. "Mostly, coz you look like a mad scientist. It's all poofy. I just… like it."
Jasper's POV
When Ava spoke, I could hear Emmett roaring with laughter inside. Edward soon joined in, and then Alice, and finally Carlisle and Esme. I made a mental note to kill them all later, but for now, all I could do was smile at Ava. She was utterly adorable.
I laughed.
"Thanks, Ava. I like your hair too."
Her cheeks were red again.
Dammit! Why did she have to be so… so sublime? When she blushed, which was quite often, I could hear her pulse, smell her blood pumping… it was almost unbearable. I doubt I'd ever get used to it.
How did Edward DO this? How could Edward bear to do this? It was practically torture. Perhaps I wasn't as in control as the rest of my family was, but still, it must have been difficult.
I made a mental note to make Edward my personal hero.
After more probing, I managed to find out more and more about Ava. Things she liked (other than my psycho hair), her favorite colour, her friends back in Seattle, her birthday, her favorite flower, all of it. And whenever I got asked the same questions back, 50 of what I said was the truth, the other 50 was lies. I had to protect Ava. And protect my family.
It wasn't until we'd finished talking when I realized how late it had become. It had become much darker than it was today, with black clouds collecting in the skies. Pretending to check my watch, I looked up at her.
"It's late. Do you think Charlie would want you home soon?"
Ava sighed.
"Yeah, I'm guessing so."
I got up off the grass quicker than a human would. But Ava didn't notice. She got up soon after I did. Slowly and gingerly, we walked back up to the house.
Ava's POV
I felt my face go hot when Jasper put his hand on the small of my back, escorting me. He was a real gentleman. He was so careful, so gentle, and so beautiful; it was hard to believe someone like him actually existed.
I smiled my thanks at him as we entered the house.
A few lights were on in the Cullen home. The girl I presumed was Jasper's twin Rosalie was reading a book on the couch, next to Emmett, who was watching TV. No one else was in sight. As we came through the door, Rosalie looked up from her book and straight at me.
It was obvious she and Jasper were twins – they were both painfully beautiful. But Jasper had a much kinder personality and appearance, whereas his sister came off cold. She eyed me distastefully for a moment, before turning back to her book.
I gulped, instantly feeling the need to cry.
Jasper gently placed one of his hands on my shoulder – I looked around at him, and he looked back delicately. It was strange, but it was as if he could sense that his sister upset me a little. How strange, yet sweet.
Emmett looked up from the TV and smiled a big goofy smile. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Hey you two! Thought you got lost out there." He wiggled his eyebrows, and for some absurd reason, I giggled.
Jasper rolled his eyes at his brother, gently escorting me out of the house. I wanted to say goodbye to Alice, until Emmett informed me that she'd left a while ago to run some errands. The way he said it, though, I picked up on a double meaning. I wanted to ask about it, but decided it was probably none of my business.
I told Jasper I didn't mind driving home on my own, but he wouldn't hear of it. It was strange, because even though we'd only known each other for a few hours, he seemed very protective of me, possessive in some way. If this were any other person, it would have pissed me off – but it flattered me when it came to Jasper.
As we sat in my green mustang, he asked me a few more questions about myself, ones he hadn't gotten around to asking this afternoon. It was long before we were parked outside Charlie's house, when I realized something. Looking over at Jasper, my eyes widened.
"How're you going to get home?" I whispered.
Jasper didn't seem as bothered by this thought as I was.
"Walk?" He shrugged.
My mouth fell open.
"So I can't drive home by myself, but you can walk home by yourself?"
Jasper smiled coyly, amused.
"Well, a lady shouldn't be left alone at night time. Anything could happen."
I muttered under my breath.
He just laughed.
Getting out of the car, we both turned to face each other before we parted ways. Somehow, the feeling of leaving him, no matter how temporary it seemed, made me almost physically ill. I felt the need to give him a hug, but felt somehow that that would be intrusive.
But what he did was just as good. Reaching his cold hand up, he brushed it softly from my cheek to my jaw line – soft as a feather. I leaned against his touch, and closed my eyes for a moment. I wished it would last longer than it did. But all good things come to an end.
I opened my eyes, and he smiled, taking his hand back. He nodded, still smiling. I smiled back.
"Take care, Ava." He backed off a few steps. "I'm sure I'll see you around." Without further due, he walked away, his hands in his pockets.
I could have started as his retreating back forever. He looked even better in the moonlight. Was it possible for someone to look so good? To be so beautiful? It had to be a crime. Slowly, I turned my back to the street, casting one more hopeful look over my shoulder, before making my way inside.
Jasper's POV
Once I was positive I was out of Ava's sight, I ran all the way home – it took me approximately 2 minutes. Stepping up the familiar steps and onto the porch of the home I'd grown to love, I thought back on the day, and couldn't help the smile that crept onto my face.
She really was something. Not just her scent, but her personality and how she was. Even though her scent almost killed me every single time I had a whiff, I couldn't have been happier with who my singer was. What a charming, sweet girl. So virtuous.
Leaning back against the wall next to the front door, I tilted my head back, and closed my eyes.
Ava, Ava, Ava…
Read and review! Hope you enjoyed!