Thank you everyone kindly for your support! I hope you all had a pleasant holiday!
I like writing Rosalie as a complete witch, but I do feel bad for Edward. Unfortunately, more trouble is coming along...
Bad Moods and Good News
"I saw that Daniels kid talking to you earlier."
Sitting at their usual table in the noisy cafeteria, Jasper poked absentmindedly at the mashed potatoes on his tray. He wouldn't have eaten the gross mush even if he could.
"Is he bothering you again?"
Edward, looking as dull as could be, shrugged. Jasper stilled his fork and raised his head.
"Edward, is he bothering you again?" he repeated, his tone firmer.
Another shrug. Jasper did his best to mask his irritation. Talking with a moody Edward was always a trial of patience.
"I can't help you if you don't tell me what's happening."
Pushing his sweet peas around, Edward said nothing. In an old hoodie, his hair far messier than usual and dark circles under his eyes, the boy looked like a wreck. He had been sinking deeper and deeper into a funk since the awful hunt with the Platts and it didn't help that he was struggling with insomnia again. Jasper had first thought Rosalie was the heart of the problem, but the more he studied Edward's emotions, the more he was convinced something deeper was going on. Getting Edward to open up about sensitive matters was seldom an easy task, though.
Jasper sighed. "If you won't talk to me, at least go to Carlisle. I know he hasn't been around much lately, but he's growing concerned as well."
A rush of anger burst from Edward and he stabbed his plastic fork down hard enough to snap the prongs off. The empath blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected a reaction like that.
At last, Emmett entered the cafeteria. There was an impish glint in his eyes and when he drew closer his brothers caught the scent of the outdoors mixed with cigarettes. It wrinkled Edward's nose and tensed Jasper's muscles. If that idiot was smoking again...
The brawny teen plopped himself down beside Edward, leaned over the table, and whispered excitedly, "Dudes, I just got invited to Leslie Harold's birthday party this weekend!"
"The cheerleader?" Edward's curiosity was slightly piqued.
"The super rich, insanely hot cheerleader," Emmett added with a roguish grin. "Her mom is going on the same conference as Carlisle, and that means no grown-ups ruining the fun. And get this, Rachel says Leslie lost a bet and has to do an actual strip tease at the party!"
Jasper accidentally snapped his own fork in two.