CHAPTER 4 – UNEXPECTED
IT took all my self control to not go looking for them. I had to hunt, and concentrated solely on that.
In reality, I didn't have to hunt. I just should – as a precaution, you know. I survived one day, yes. But there were still about 80 or so to go till summer ….
I stood in the middle of a minuscule clearing, no bigger than my bedroom, and closed my eyes. I scoped the area around me for a couple miles, trying to find my prey. Just like every other lucky creature on this earth, tonight's dinner was sleeping. My frustration over that little key point fueled my drive and actually put me in the mood to hunt.
Before I opened my eyes, I concentrated heavily on my prey's smell. Over a mile away and I could smell the deliciously tantalizing flow of blood. I let my instincts overtake me, and I ran.
Dodging trees and tearing the earth up with my claws as I ran with my arms, I felt like a ferocious lioness, about to make her kill.
I saw a very large boulder jutting out of the ground that was almost as tall as me coming up. I growled with ferocity, adding to my acceleration, and landed on the balls of my feet and the heels of my hands, then used all my force to launch myself off the rock.
Right as I heard it shatter, mid-leap, I became completely disoriented. It was as if I flew through a foggy cloud that temporarily clouded my crave. As I soared, as if in slow motion, I was fully aware of my body. I took a second to analyze what I was up to when I was met with a whistling noise that carried towards me. It sounded like the wind was yelling "No!"
Then, I was hit in the side and knocked out of mid-flight, soaring to my right towards the ground. Right before I hit the ground, I heard someone exclaim, "Shit!' under his breath.
I hit the ground with unnecessary force, rocking the earth and shaking the trees around me. The man who attacked me kept me pinned to the ground, however, even after it all stopped moving. I still felt the calm cloud around me, and lost all my desire for the hunt completely.
Another moment passed and I growled. I wanted to put a face to my attacker, but my head was in a patch of ferns and I couldn't see him on top of me.
Before I could even speak, he pulled back lithely, like a wild cat who realized he attacked a fellow hunter.
I groaned. Though I wasn't bruised, it still ached a bit; he was much stronger than me. I pushed my upper half away from the ground, groaning again. I rubbed at my head lightly, where it hit the ground, before turning to my attacker.
My hand froze where it was, a fist massaging my temple.
"I'm sorry. Don't be afraid. It was an accident. Are you okay?" All his words were rushed, so quick even I had trouble catching up.
"It's ok," I mumbled, looking down.
"I am sorry," he whispered, his voice captivating. I knew he was being truthful, but I still didn't answer. A moment passed, then he spoke again. "I'm Jasper," he introduced himself. He lifted his hand and for a fleeting second paused, thinking, then dropped it.
I was slightly offended that he didn't want to touch me, but something else filled my brain, dominated it.
I couldn't introduce myself. 'O hai, I'm Bella Swan. I'm not totally the same exact girl who's your lab partner.' Or how about, 'Yes, I am your lab partner. And a member of the undead.' Lying was out, also. He'd figure it out. What do I do? Make up a name, like Isa or Belle. Oh yes, Disney princess, that was the way to go.
"I didn't mean to attack you," he said, breaking me out of my reverie. "I mistook you for someone else, if you could believe it." I just stared at him blankly. "I was hunting with my sister, see, and when you went for the kill, I thought you were her …" He drifted off, seeing my expression hadn't changed. He looked concerned.
A new thought took me, though, as I gazed into his eyes. Ignoring more instinctual feelings that I hadn't experienced in a while, I managed to be observant. His eyes.
I couldn't cloak myself now. He knew I was a vampire. But did he notice my eyes? I chewed on the inside of my cheek.
He looked concerned, but got to his feet and held his hand out at me, to help me up. I broke my gaze to stare at his hand instead. Did I dare take it?
I looked back up into his eyes, now towering over me. "But your eyes," I exhaled. His brow furrowed a bit. Even though I said that so low it was hard to hear, even immortal, he caught on. I waited.
He soon withdrew his hand and finally broke eye contact, looking off into the distance. If I hadn't been staring at him so intently, I would have missed his shrug.
"That doesn't bother you?" I gasped.
He shrugged infinitesimally again. "You get used to it."
I was confused for half a second. "No, I mean –" I couldn't bear to finish my sentence. I meant to say me but I couldn't bear it if he said yes.
He turned back at me to better comprehend my silence. "You?" he guessed the ending of my sentence. I nodded, unable to look away from his gaze. "There are different paths. You chose yours, and I mine."
He stared at me for another second, then held his hand out again. When I didn't take it he said, "The dirt can't be that comfortable."
Against my better judgement, I took it. He pulled me up to a standing position, but we didn't let go of each other's hands.
"Tell me your name," he pleaded, his golden eyes turning soft. I suddenly felt willing to tell him. What was the big deal? I couldn't spend my entire life trying to hide what I was from them.
I opened my mouth to tell him, but a different sound came out.
"Jazz!" a girl's voice called from a distance. Jasper's head snapped up and looked to the northwest. "Jasper?" it called again.
"My sister," he murmured. "I need to go." His voice was so light, she'd never hear. "Are you staying in Forks, longer than the night?"
I nodded slowly. "I beg you, then, don't hunt in town. I'll explain tomorrow night, if you –" his voice broke off as he read my indecision on my face. I could tell he felt it too, my emotions.
He let go of my hand and began to drift towards his sister's voice. "I'll be here, even if you're not," he whispered. He was gone.