A/N: Greetings fellow strangers! Sooo. I am kind of iffy about how I did this chapter. So. Read/Review. Tell me if you like or hate it. Or just tell me something random about chickens. That works too. :D
Oh yes. I still need to figure out pairings with Edward, Alice, and Emmett! Any suggestions for this would greatly appreciated. :D
Mmkay. Goo.
x~o~x
Guarded
Chapter 7
Jasper sat on the living room couch; reading some book he had found off the coffee table. Or, at least, he was trying to read it. His thoughts were swirled around Rosalie. It had been a full month since he and Alice had arrived; and she still hadn't said a single word to him.
Despite his family's reassurances; he still couldn't help but think she hated him. He desperately hoped this shopping trip she and Alice went on would ease some of the tension. He was getting extremely agitated; with her not talking to him.
He needed to know why she was so miserable.
He needed to know what happened while she was human to make her this way.
He needed to know all this; so he could make her happy again.
Giving up on reading, he tossed the book back on the table; and drew in a deep breath. I'm going to talk to her today, He decided. I'll do it, even if it kills me.
Just at that moment; the front door flung open. He saw Rosalie run through the door and up the stairs; and felt her depression coming on in large waves. She was scared; she was confused; she was obviously upset… And was that guilt, he was sensing?
Jasper ran out the open door to see Alice; getting these unnecessarily huge shopping bags out of the car. He stomped over to her; a sudden rage overwhelming him. Alice may have been one of his closest friends now; but he would not stand for her hurting Rosalie.
He stopped himself for a brief second. Why am I so angry…? He questioned himself. He soon shook it off; and continued toward Alice.
"What the hell happened!" He practically growled at her. He didn't mean it; but he couldn't help his sudden anger.
Alice glanced at him, seeming to take no note of his current bitterness. "Nothing." She said calmly.
He glared. "That sure didn't look like nothing." His jaw clenched.
Alice threw one the shopping bags at him. Jasper caught it with no problem.
"Well?" He asked again.
"Relax, Jasper. Nothing terribly bad happened." She stated, matter of factly.
"Then explain why she immediately ran up to her room, looking as if she was about to cry?"
Alice sighed; as she gathered up the rest of the bags. "We were talking about boys."
He raised his eyebrow. "Boys?"
"Yes. You know, girl talk. It accidentally triggered some bad memories for her."
Does that mean she had a…? He felt his dead heart sink, as a mixture of jealousy, anger, and disappointment surged through him. Woah, Jasper. You haven't even talked to her yet… He shook his head, trying to clear it of such thoughts.
"Oh yeah. That bag you have right there is Rosalie's. You mind taking it up to her?" Alice asked him, walking toward the house. She didn't wait for him to answer before she zoomed up to her own room to fill out her closet.
Sure. Jasper thought dully. Once we're both in a little bit of a better mood.
He sighed, and took the bag upstairs. He threw it into his room before jumping into the shower; hoping the feel of piping hot water would ease his stress.
x~o~x
Almost a month had passed since Jasper had last seen Rosalie. She didn't come out of her room at all after she and Alice had come home. It had been almost a month, Jasper remembered, that the bag of Rosalie's new clothes had sat in the corner of his room.
Taking a deep breath, he took the bag with him and marched over to where Rosalie's room was located; figuring that this would give him an excuse to finally talk to her.
One knock on her door; and there she was; standing in front of him. Her hair fell across her face, and her golden eyes were darker than he had last seen them. She was still as beautiful as the day he first saw her.
"Yes, Jasper?" She said quietly, her voice literally music to his ears. He could sense her nervousness.
He cleared his throat. "I… Alice gave me this to give to you almost a month ago…. But… Things just got in the way and I forgot about it." He held the bag to her, nervous of her reaction to him.
"Uh…Thanks.. Listen, Jasper, do you mind… Coming in for moment?" She bit her lip. She opened the door wider, and stepped out the way for him.
He walked through her doorway; and noticed how dark her room was compared to the rest of the Cullen house. The walls were painted with deep, indigo shade; while the windows had sheer purple curtains covering them. Any furniture she had seemed to blend in with the walls and the shadows; all except for the big bed.
"Just drop the bag right there," She instructed, before she sat on the bed. "You can sit down too, if you want."
Not wanting to be rude, and not wanting to accidentally trigger something; Jasper sat down next to her on the bed after he set the bag on the floor.
Rosalie bit her lip again. "Did…. Did Alice tell you…. You know… What happened during the trip?"
Jasper looked at her carefully. "Yes… She said that you were talking about… people… and it ended up bringing back some bad memories."
She smiled; though it was one more of sadness than happiness. "Is that all she told you?"
Jasper nodded, unsure of what all to say. Now's your chance, dumbass! You're finally talking to her! "She didn't give me any other details." He said after a long while.
Rosalie sighed, and looked at her hands in her lap. "Look…. Jasper, I'm not sure how to say this. It won't be easy…"
"It's alright, Miss. Just say it the best you can." He looked at her curiously, sending a few waves of encouragement toward her.
She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. Her nervousness was much, much more evident now.
"Alice told me that you were hurting inside… Over me." She opened her eyes again; and he could swear that if she were human, she'd be crying right now. He could feel her guilt, and sadness rolling off her in huge billows.
Jasper looked at his feet. "Oh." He replied. He didn't at all think that he would be the boy they were talking about. Was she so upset that day because she finally learned what she was doing to him?
"Yes… And… I just—I—I wanted to say that… That I'm sorry. For wh-whatever pain I've caused you since you arrived."
Jasper nodded. Unsure of what else to say. He was shocked yet oddly flattered at the thought of Rosalie crying over his pain.
"And… I don't hate you. I never have. Would you ever forgive me for the way I've acted? I mean, I don't blame you if you decide not to…" She trailed off, looking straight ahead before turning back to him.
Jasper looked up at her and smiled. "Of course I forgive you, Darlin'. Though I do believe I should get going. The last thing I want is Emmett hammering on me just because I happened to be alone in your room with you for a few minutes."
Rosalie chuckled, relief rolling off her. "Oh yes. No one wants that."
They both got up off the bed, and walked over to the door. Jasper turned to her, before leaving.
"Miss Hale, I do sincerely hope this means we can be friends now," He said, taking one of her small dainty hands in his large scarred ones.
She smiled up at him; this time a genuine smile, with no hint of sadness. "I would certainly think it does." She said, while opening the door for him.
He tipped his head to her before heading back to his room; elated to have finally been on okay-if not good terms with her.
She doesn't hate me. They were right after all… Now, hopefully she'll open up to me more… Thank God!
x~o~x
A/N:
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