Hi all! Before you read this chapter I just want to let you know that there won't be another update until the 27th of February due to all the revision I need to do for my mock exams. I'm sorry, but it has to be done! So, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and will be able to wait until the next in 2 weeks time!
Chapter 13
Finally, I am almost ready to make my regular night time journey up to the roof. I emptied my schoolbag and then re-filled it with my notebook, pencils, and as much of my homework as I could cram in. Only now, as I scan through my books, do I realise I'm missing something. In order to make a start on my History Essay, I need a book to help me write it, but I don't have the right sort with me at the moment.
Wait, Carlisle has lots of old books in his study. Maybe I can sneak downstairs and borrow one? Everyone will be in their rooms by now anyway.
Picking up my schoolbag, I sling it over my shoulder and leave my room. As quietly as I can, I creep downstairs, trying my best to avoid any creaky floorboards. I go down the stairs, and head through the lounge towards Carlisle's study.
*Crash*
"Ouch!" I hiss, even though it didn't hurt. Old habits die hard I guess. Somehow I had managed to kick the coffee table. Not only kick it, but also knock it over, sending a whole load of stuff flying onto the floor.
"I really hope no-one is coming to investigate that." I whisper to myself.
Thankfully I manage to make it the rest of the way to Carlisle's office in one piece. Just. Once inside, I go straight to the nearest shelf, scanning through the books for something that might help. No luck.
Hmm, maybe a different shelf I think to myself before turning around.
Guess who is sat at Carlisle's desk.
"What are you doing down here?" I hiss, knowing that this isn't his usual routine.
"I was reading. What about you?" He asks.
"Borrowing a book." Briefly I look back through to the lounge, then return my eyes to him. "Possibly destroying the lounge..."
Jasper chuckles. "I heard."
"Have you been sat there the entire time?" I ask, suddenly feeling a rush of embarrassment.
Jasper smirks. "Yes, I have."
Bloody hell, I'm only wearing my pj's. The same ones from last night too! Damn, I need to buy a dressing gown.
Jasper gets out from Carlisle's chair and walks over to me. "What sort of book are you after, ma'am?" He asks, smiling.
I look around at the shelves, then back to him. "One that will help me with History."
Jasper raises an eyebrow. "History?"
"Well..." I look away from his eyes. "I couldn't find you, that's all."
"Do you still need help?" He asks.
Yes! This is my chance! I can interrogate him and see what he knows about Edward's riddle.
I look back into Jasper's eyes with a smile. "Yes. I have a lot of homework so I could do with a little help."
Jasper nods. "Okay then."
Walking over to the door, I am about to leave before I turn back to him. "Oh, and bring all the books and stuff you need in a bag, okay?"
Although Jasper looks confused by my words, he agrees anyway. Passing by me, he speeds upstairs. I follow, walking so that he has time to grab his things. Then, I go into my room and wait there for him. Within seconds, Jasper knocks and enters.
He looks around. "Where shall I sit?" He asks.
I grin. "Wherever you like, if you want. But you'll be alone if you do."
Again, Jasper looks at me with a confused expression.
"Well, I don't spend all of my time in here. Come on, follow me."
Making sure my bag is secure on my shoulders, I swing open my balcony doors and jump to the nearest tree. Climbing up the tree with a slightly different route than usual, an easier route. Jasper stays close behind, following my movements exactly. Once on the roof, we settle on the slope, the same spot I always pick, and start working together on our homework. Well, to be honest is was more us working, and he helping me when I get stuck. Apart from that, we're silent the whole time. When we finish, we push our homework to the side, and lye in silence for a while.
For once, it's me who breaks it. "Jasper?" I say softly.
"Yes?" He replies, turning his head to look at me.
"How do you know so much? About the Newborns, I mean." I turn my head to look at him too, but he switches his gaze to the sky, keeping it fixed there.
"I didn't have quite the same...upbringing as my adopted siblings." He sits up and rolls up his sleeve. Quizzically, I sit up too and peer closely at his arm. "Are, are they bites?"
"Hmph, battle scars. All the training the confederate army gave me was useless against the Newborns. Still, I never lost a fight."
I pause for a minute, remembering back to when he told me how old he was. "Was this during the Civil war?" I guess, after all, my knowledge of American History is still very limited.
He nods, rolling his sleeve back down and focusing again on the sky. "I was the youngest major in the Texas cavalry, without having seen any real combat. Until..."
"Until..." I prompt.
"'Till I met a certain immortal... Maria..."
*Jasper's Flashback* things in '...' Are present, things being said in "..." is flashback convo. *
'I was riding back to Galveston after evacuating a column of women and children...when I saw her... Southern gentleman that I was, I offered my aid.'
"Mmm. Lovely, and an officer."
"You'd better do it Maria. I can never stop once I've started."
'I was confused, but at the same time, mesmerized by Maria.'
"What's your name soldier?"
"Major Jasper Whitlock, Ma'am."
"I hope you survive; you may be of great help."
*Present*
"She was creating an army?" I ask.
"They were very common in the south, brutal battles for territory. But Maria wanted them all. And she had me, I was her second in command. My abilities, served her well. I trained her Newborns but she never let them live beyond their first year... It was my job to dispose of them."
Watching him speak, I realise that he is working through painful memories.
"I thought what we had was love. But I was just her puppet, she pulled the strings. I didn't know there was another way, until I met Alice. She brought me to the Cullens and this new life."
Still, Jasper is studying the stars. But there is a glint in his eyes that tells me he's feeling pain. Shifting my body so that I am pressed against his side, I gently wrap my arm around his and lean my head on his shoulder.
"Where is Alice now?" I ask. I've never heard of her before, so she must be long gone by now, but I still want to know.
"Not long after we joined the 'family', Alice and I, we began to fall out. We had lots of fights and...we split. She left here and we've never heard from her since." He explains.
"Sorry Jasper, I didn't mean to, I... I-" I drift off, not sure what to say to him. He moves his head to the side, allowing him to look down to me.
He smiles. "That's quite alright Ma'am."
"At least you have a history, even if you're not proud of it..." I say, my expression dampening.
I look away from Jasper and unwrap my arm from his. Before I stand up, I collect my books and stuff them into my bag. Jasper, clearly realising that we are done for the night, does the same. After packing up my things, I sling my bag onto my back, shuffling slightly to make it more comfortable. Then I look to Jasper. He too has his bag over his shoulder, and now he is looking at me.
"We should head back inside." I say, taking one last look at the night sky above me. I sense Jasper move closer to me, and when I lower my gaze, I find his face inches away from my own. A smile is tugging at his lips, and I can see the sincerity in his eyes. Gently, he takes hold of my forearms and pulls me even closer to him. My eyes stay locked with his, like magnets attracting each other. "Jasper..." I whisper, but I'm silenced by the sensation of his lips on mine. I close my eyes at the contact, and melt into the soft kiss. A whole cocktail of emotions rush through my body: shock, nerve, lust, joy. So many emotions all at once, all being sent his way. My hands slowly creep up his body, finding his cheeks. I clasp my palms around them, deepening the kiss and enhancing everything. The entire moment, is magic.
Bella is waiting in the car park for me with Edward when I arrive at school the next day. The weather is grey but dry, so I am wearing blue jeans, a black vest top and a blue velvet shirt over the top which is unbuttoned. A scarf is tied around my neck and I am wearing black ankle boots on my feet. My hair is hanging loose.
Bella calls out to me as I approach her and Edward. "Hey Hannah! Today's the big day!"
"Big day?" I ask, unsure of what she is talking about. My mind is still wandering back to last night, backtracking to that exact moment. Of course, I have to snap out of it whilst Edward is around. After all, he might snoop in my mind.
"The maths test you have? The first of like 1 million exams." She says like it is the most obvious thing in the world.
"Oh, right yeah." I reply.
Bella looks at me with concern in her eyes. "You ok? You seem, not quite with it?"
"I'm fine, really." I say as reassuringly as I can. "Can we go now? I need to get to my locker."
She nods. "Sure."
When I get to my locker, Bella parts with a goodbye and then carries on down the hall with Edward. I'll see her at lunch, after History. First though, I need to ace, or at least pass this Maths exam. Then struggle through Biology. Fun...
I arrive at History almost half an hour later than I am supposed to. In Biology, we had to carry out a variety of experiments, and one involved the use of blood. Worried that I might attack or kill one of my classmates out of bloodlust, I had to think on my feet and get out of there fast. However, that led me to being stuck in the Nurse's office for ages.
Quietly, I open the door to class and slide inside.
"Hannah? Where have you been?" My teacher asks sternly.
"I-I was in the medical office Miss. I have a note if you want to see it."
She sighs. "Hand it over."
After fumbling around trying to find the note in my bag, I finally locate it and hand it over to her. She nods in approval and dismisses me. I take it back from her and walk over to my seat. I hate being late, people always stare at you until you sit down in a way that makes it seem like you've just committed some awful crime. Of course, Jasper starts questioning me as soon as I sit down.
"It was in Biology. Sir said we were going to do...blood examinations." I explain to him.
"What happened?" He asks, looking worried that I might have killed someone. Honestly, you'd think he'd trust me by now. Smiling, I tell him my genius escape route.
"Don't worry, I faked a faint and was taken to the office before anything could happen."
He chuckles. "Smart thinking."
*Ring Ring, Ring Ring*
"Quiet, please! Carry on with your work whilst I answer the phone." The teacher says as she hurries over to the ringing phone. Naturally, the class just begins talking, ignoring their work. A few seconds later, she raises her head to scan the class, before setting eyes on the boy next to me.
"Jasper?" She says.
"Yes?"
"There's a phone call for you in the office."
He nods, "Okay."
I watch as Jasper packs away his things and leaves the room. He doesn't come back. He isn't anywhere at lunch. In fact, I don't see him for the rest of the day.
Jasper POV
*At the Cullen's house*
Although reluctant to leave Hannah in History, I do so because Carlisle has summoned me back to the house due to an emergency. The journey is short, but the closer I get to the house, the more emotion I can feel radiating from it. And then, there's the scent.
"Carlisle?" I call as I enter the house.
"Jasper, can you come in here?" I hear him call from the lounge.
"What's the matter?" I ask as I approach the room.
Carlisle is waiting for me in the doorway with a grim expression. "It's why I called you back here from school. You need to look in the lounge."
Carlisle seems more worried than usual, that's how I know something has happened. I follow him into the lounge and instantly pick up the scent. A scent I know. That's when I see her, sitting on the edge of the sofa.
"Hello Jasper."
"Alice?"