AN: *SIGH* this wasn't supposed to take this long but AH! C'est la vie. It's not like I couldn't update during the Twilight Season of autumn, so here's a little something to read by the fire with your cups of hot chocolate!
But first! Reviews!
DreamUnicorn247: Glad you enjoyed! And if you thought that chapter was thrilling, wait till you get a load of this one!
twilightstuff: Thank you! You're too sweet
That's Balderdash: Lol, and that's why I put it in! Glad you found it as amusing as I did!
Guest 1: Sorry, where in this story does molesting of any sort take place? Genuinely, as I've never gone through such a thing I may have put it in without me understanding what I've done. Can you please send me an excerpt of the scene? That's not something I'd like to promote in any shape or form in any of my stories. As for Jessica's more insensitive behaviour, no worries! I promise you she does and WILL get better!
Kilan: In the contrary she DOES promise to lay off the thirst after this chapter (chap 2), it's just that their deal was one date, and it simply hasn't happened yet, hence why, even though he isn't interested as of now, Edward is willing to do a redo.
Guest 2: Have to disagree with you chief; any sort of context you give to a character does make them more fleshed out, a.k.a deep. I'm not saying Jessica is a deep character, just saying that yes, something as simple as familial status, DOES do much for a character! Also thank you for bringing up a realistic worry of having people over. I've added a little context in this chapter, so hopefully it makes a little bit more sense as to why she's okay with Edward dropping her off/picking her up!
OOOKAY! Let's go!
Apologies for any typos, I am very, very lazy and can't be bothered to look for them lol.
Chapter Four: It's a Mad, Mad World
Jessica didn't know what physical disease Edward had, but he had a very damming mental disease.
Self-loathing.
And that was unacceptable. If they were going to date, which she felt very sure they would, they would have to be a power couple and not a total eclipse or something.
Hence, the gift she gave him when he showed up Friday after school for their date.
He blinked at the journal, brows pinched in confusion as he took it in his hands and stared at the title: "100 Reasons why you Rock!"
"Think of it like a corsage on prom night," Jessica told him with a proud smile. "And you'll be happy to find I mentioned your external appealing qualities once and that was only because I ran out of compliments after the fourth—I don't usually give compliments, I get them, you know?"
Edward blinked at her, then at the book before flipping through it curiously and tilting his head to the side in mild confusion. "It…only has five pages filled."
"Like I said, I ran out."
"…is not this false advertising?"
"Well no because there's a second part to the gift!" Jessica explained. "You write down something you love about yourself till you reach 100!"
Edward paused before letting out an amused breath and slipping into the front seat, Jessica quickly followed by slipping into the passenger one so she could hear his final verdict.
"I appreciate the sentiment but I hardly think I can figure out a single good thing about me…let alone 95."
Jessica's self satisfied smile froze on her face. Right. Self-loathing disease. Ugh she was such a dumbass sometimes! Of course the poor boy couldn't figure out 95 other good things to think about himself!
"You know what? Give it back, I'll fill it out myself—and I will find 95 other things to like about you!" Jessica vowed as she accepted back the book and shoved it into her book back.
Edward snorted as they pulled out of the driveway. "Well, good luck."
"I don't need it."
"By your own admission you couldn't think of any past five."
"Because I'm not used to giving out compliments! I told you already!"
Edward chuckled half self deprecatingly and half amusingly before turning back to the road. "Do you mind classical music?"
"Hmm? Not at all! Classical music is super good." At making her fall asleep. But whatever, judging his grandma-esque taste in music was probably just going to amp up his self deprecation disease.
Edward's smile broadened, and Jessica felt very proud of herself as he turned on the radio and a lullaby-ish song came on. All was going according to plan, Confident Edward was going to be so much sexier and that was saying—
Wait, no! No steamy thoughts…at least not in front of Edward.
"So, how was your camping trip?"
"Fun."
Jessica nodded slowly. "Oookay. Anything else?"
He gave another snort. "Not really, no. I thought you didn't like the outdoors?"
"Well no but I like you."
Edward shrugged. "We went hunting, I took down a mountain lion."
Jessica's jaw dropped. "No. Shut up! Do you have pictures?"
"No. We have…a strict no-technology policy when going out on our trips."
"Aw! Boo. If we go walking one time, I have a policy for you to bring one just in case you do again."
Edward smiled. "I'll keep that in mind." His smile then faded slightly before clearing his throat and beginning with, "Speaking of how the week's gone…and forgive me if I'm over stepping but is everything alright with your father?"
Jessica's smile faded for a moment before she perked up quickly after, batting a hand through the air. "Oh that. Yeah sorry about Monday, he's usually gone during the weekdays but he was stuck watching his game on TV instead because another animal attack happened at the local stadium."
Edward noticeably tensed. "Another one?"
"Mhm, five victims. Mike thinks it's a rabid pack of super rats, Lauren thinks it's angry wolves, and call me crazy but I'm going with Mike's super rat theory because of how…neat? Yeah, how neat the corpses look. See a wolf would've—hey you okay?"
Edward was now anxiously glancing out the window every few moments, hands clenched tightly against the wheel.
"Sorry," Jessica said. "Um, I'll change the sub—"
The car suddenly lurched forward at neck breaking speed, causing Jessica to gasp in shock and press her back to the leather seat. "Edward—!"
"Hold on to the handlebar," he said firmly as he jerked down the road bend so sharply that she would've tumbled into his lap if she hadn't held on when he told her to—
Now that she thought about it, she was mentally kicking herself for listening to him. God dammit that would've been—
No, no, pure thoughts. Pure thoughts and confusion as to why Edward had gone speed demon all of a sudden.
"We're not late you know," Jessica told him, but his gaze remained glued to the blurry gray and yellow strip that had become the road while his foot remained melded to the gas pedal.
Had the report bothered him so—wait. A common trait of self-loathing individuals was dehumanization (or something, she read it somewhere though, she's sure), so maybe he covertly related himself to the super rats and was angry now?
"Edward, look," Jessica said, turning in her seat and placing a hand on his, trying not to wince too much at how gosh darn cold and weirdly statuesque it felt. "You're not and ani—"
Her words were cut off with a shriek as the car jerked to a sudden stop and sent her smacking the back of her head against the car seat before falling forward and hitting her head on the glove compartment.
"Are you alright?" He asked urgently as Jessica dazedly sat back up. "Nothing broken?"
"Erm…no? I think? I read somewhere that broken bones—"
"Good." He threw open the drivers' seat door and slammed it shut before leaning his head through the window and telling her, "Drive. Don't stop."
Jessica blinked owlishly at him. "Wha—?"
And then he charged into the woods and disappeared without even the sound of cracking branches and rustling leaves to show he'd even gone in.
What the fuck?
What was even going on here?! Why—?
No, you know what? Jessica wasn't (that) stupid. If something was freaking Edward out that wasn't his inner demons, then she should probably listen and get the hell out.
But still, as she slid over to the drivers' seat and took in a deep breath she was confused as to what exactly got him scared.
…and also disappointed she hadn't learned how to drive yet.
But, it shouldn't be too hard…right?
He'd heard the vampire's thoughts as Jessica was telling him something about…super rats?
Anyhow, he began to hear his voice, and see the images of a writhing bleeding Jessica. He prepared to ignore him for the most part, with the exception of being on high alert when he heard something else:
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how delicious will her shock be when I tear open that car roof?"
That did it.
Unfortunately, even at maximum speed that vampire gave chase, cheerful thoughts of a good fun cat and mouse game along with confusion as to why they were suddenly going so fast entered Edward's head.
And then he'd head is near imperceptible footsteps from the tree boughs above, a dark blur through the evergreen pine needles. He couldn't out drive him…he needed to get him away.
Jessica had pressed her hand against his and said something he didn't hear as he slammed his foot on the brakes. Only when he heard her scream and the sound of impact did he flinch and remember how human bodies in rapidly stopping and starting vehicles reacted.
After checking to see if she was alright, she told her to drive away and took off into the woods, making sure not to put on his full speed until he was hidden by the forest's trees.
Edward heard the vampire's mental voice ramp up in confusion when he no doubt saw the car stop and sensed his presence.
"Show yourself," he uttered, knowing he was being heard loud and clear.
There was a piercing laugh that carried on the wind before in the blink of an eye, he appeared with an aura of smugness and the slight displacement of needles and leaves.
Edward took the vampire in, the low blonde ponytail the sideways smirk, the lack of a top and his bare feet. He didn't recognize this man, but the outfit spoke of one who had no interest in blending in with polite society, and the deep ruby eyes showed he had a taste for human blood.
"So, you're Jessica's stalker."
The man's smirk broadened. "And you're her guardian angel," he responded. "What is she to you?"
"Another murder I won't let you get away with."
"Another?" He repeated, placing a hand on his bare chest and giving Edward a look of false woundedness. "Are you talking about the poor, poor, people on the news? Didn't you hear the men in blue? Animal attacks."
Edward narrowed his eyes and took a step towards him. "I don't doubt it."
The man grinned widely. "Oh? And what are you, then? A good vampire?" He snickered on the word.
"I dare say I'm at least marginally better than you."
The man shook his head and clicked his tongue, crossing his arms behind his back as he began to circle Edward like a shark. Edward kept his eyes on him the whole while. "You don't know what you're missing, Oh Special One. Have you ever smelled her?" He shuddered, eyes darkening as he continued, "It's as if liquid cocaine glides through her veins—it's glorious."
Edward didn't know what this man was talking about. Jessica smelled just as good as the next human, in fact if it wasn't for her headache inducing loud thoughts she would be even easier to be around due to the sheer amount of makeup, lotions, and perfume she put on that helped mask her scent. Liquid cocaine? That was ridiculous.
He told him as such, and the blonde vampire simply laughed. "Ah well. Better for me, I won't have to share."
"I'm afraid you won't be getting any part of her. Leave her alone. I'm warning you."
"What's a wussy deer eater like you going to do to me, hm? Don't make me laugh!"
Edward grabbed his arm to stop him from moving and glared at him. "Again. I'm warning you."
The vampire rolled his eyes. "And I'm warning—"
The scent hit them at the same time; smoke, gasoline, blood.
While Edward tensed, the blonde vampire quaked, eyes shifting to complete deep midnight as he grinned and showcased fangs glittering with venom. "Oh," he breathed. "Fuck this game."
It was some miracle of God that Edward had grabbed the vampire before the incident, it allowed him to snatch him back as he tried to run and tackle him to the ground before he could go any further.
He hadn't fought in awhile. Hopefully he still remembered some moves.
Jessica hated car driving.
She'd decided this in only five seconds after gingerly pressing on and off her foot from the gas and having the car jerk forward like an excited horse.
Except horses were fun and cars sucked!
Stupid Edward. Why'd he leave her here if he was so sure something was wrong? And where the hell did he go?!
Sucking in a sharp breath, Jessica gripped the wheel and pressed the gas again with her plaid flat. As it jerked forward, she forced down the urge to let go and continued driving.
Slowly, she let out the breath she'd been holding and smiled lightly. Okay. Okay. She was getting the hang of this. She pressed the gas a little more and forced the car a little past 15, and then 20, then 30.
Pride erupted in her soul as she grinned. Okay! She got this! As the car sped up even further she felt the wind in her hair, and heard the boring classical music cheering her on with its DUN-DUN-DUN-DUHHH sound and wow! Maybe driving wasn't so ba—
A deer hopped onto the road.
Jessica shrieked and jerked the wheel before remembering that a brake existed and slamming on that too. Her stomach went sloshing around violently and the car skidded and she was screaming and—CRASH.
A tree bough shattered the windshield and slashed her across the cheek as glass showered over her and stabbed her with little annoying pricks and needles.
To add insult to injury, the air bags smacked her in the face and slammed her head against the chair seat for a fourth time that day. Leaving her panting and dazed and pissed off and oh my gosh she just crashed Edward's car!
"Aw crap," Jessica groaned, wincing as a droplet of blood fell on her eyelash. Sighing she took her book bag and slumped out of the now ruined car, squinting across the street at the stupid deer who was staring wide eyed at her and wiggling his nose.
Jessica glared back and gave him a middle finger as she dug through her bag for her cell phone. Luckily it had survived with minimal cracks, and she could find Edward's contact just—
From across the street, Edward went flying through the air before crashing against the road so hard that it cracked.
Jessica's jaw dropped as he used his hands to propel him back to his feet, just in time to block a first from a blonde guy who came out of nowhere—!
Jessica made a tiny confused squeak that had both snapping their heads towards her. The blonde one grinned, his teeth eerily sharp—
Before Jessica could process what she was seeing, she'd been swooped up with a shriek and carted off into the woods as they blurred with the speed of her and her carrier's movements.
"I'm sorry," Edward said, his voice sounding very small and very far away as her vision blurred.
"Wha-Edward—?"
"You're losing a lot of blood."
"What was—!?"
"Close your eyes. It will all make sense when you wake up."
"Sense…" Jessica slurred as her eyelids fluttered. "Right…right…" her eyes fell shut to the sound of a booming laugh that echoed around the woods.
The gross scent of bleach woke her up much later.
Jessica's eyes fluttered open at first to a world of confusion. The ceiling was pure white with a rectangular light fixture beaming down on her, while she lay on an equally white bed covered by also, also, white curtains.
Was this…where was this?
Only when she touched the bandaid over forehead did it all make sense.
This was a hospital. She was in a hospital because—
Jessica tore open her curtains, onky to find Edward and the blindingly handsome Carlisle Cullen speaking so low with each other that she couldn't hear a sound. She only knew they were whispering because of their moving lips and facial expressions.
A split second after they turned to her, Dr. Cullen smiling with Edward frowning worriedly.
"Hello, Ms. Stanley," Dr. Cullen said. "You gave Edward a little scare."
Jessica frowned. "How? It was a flesh wound!"
"Clearly not," Edward said. "You were hallucinating."
Jessica bristled as she slid off the hospital bed—a mistake as she was hit instantly with vertigo and forced to stagger right back like a loser. Still, she kept her head high as she demanded. "What the fuck happened back there?"
The two unfairly sexy men exchanged a glance before Dr. Cullen said, "As Edward said—"
"Bullshit! I've gotten deeper cuts scraping my elbows playing sports and not once, not ever did I hallucinate!" She turned back to Edward and snapped, "What. Happened."
"Jessica—"
"The truth."
His jaw clenched before he began to retort something, but Dr. Cullen held up a hand to stop him. "What do you remember, Jessica?"
"We were driving to the fall function thing-y, then Edward started speeding up and then we stopped abruptly and he told me to drive so I did and then I crashed—" she paused. "Sorry about that, by the way. Anyway, I crashed because I can't drive and a deer was on the road, then Edward came flying and cracked the damn road and this other guy came out of nowhere—!"
"You just said you crashed," Edward cut in. "You were in shock—"
"Stop lying to me! Do I have a supernaturally charged stalker after me or what?!"
"And if I tell you yes?" Edward said tightly. "What then? Will you tell your friends?"
"Wha—why does that matter?! I deserve answers!"
"Well enjoy disappointment because you won't be getting them," Edward said coldly before turning on his heel and storming off. Jessica glared at his back until Dr. Cullen cleared his throat lightly.
"Would you like anything? Water?"
"Yeah, Doc," Jessica said, turning sharply towards him. "How about water with a side of answers!"
"Would ice be a nice substitute?"
Jessica flopped onto the bed, flipped onto her stomach and screeched into her pillow.
Because what the hell was going on here?
AN: This chapter is what I'd like to call "The Car Scene". It functions in a similar way to the less dramatic one with Bella, but with—again—more over the top results.
Lemme quickly plug in my kofi here (ko-fi slash thefantasygoddess) aaaaand okay! Great!
I hope you enjoyed! Next chapter should be up super soon!
Fantasy Fan OUT!