Chapter Ten - Hey Gringo
Disclaimer - I don't own anything Twilight related, that all belongs to one Stephanie Meyer
Authors Note - Not much to say here, except thank you for the follows and favourites! And enjoy chapter ten!
Laying low (low) but I could see the smoke
Yeah and I knew it wouldn't be long
I could stay, oh, I could stay awake
Long enough to die another day
I could try to get it right
Whatever's gonna keep you alive
Keep you alive
Hey Gringo - Kaleo
I don't think I've ever been so aware of someone else's presence in my life. I couldn't help but continue to glance at Jasper, as he sat in the passenger seat of my car.
"Eyes on the road." He barely moved when saying it, simply continuing to stare out the window ahead of him.
"Sorry", I squeaked, flushing from the embarrassment of getting caught staring.
HOW did I manage to get myself into this situation?
A few hours earlier
I didn't realise I had taken a step back until I heard the crack of a pen beneath my feet. Looking down I scanned the ground, taking in all of my things that had scattered moments earlier. In a brief moment of madness, and ignoring the situation at hand, I knelt down and quickly picked up my things, before rising again, turning, and walking away from my car.
I heard footsteps following me, and knowing how silent vampires can be, thanks to Alice, I knew he was making it obvious. I stopped, turning to glare at him with as intimidating a stare as I could manage. He was obviously unaffected, but I turned and continued walking. Once more I could hear those footsteps.
With a furious breath through my nose, I stopped. Turning on my heel I finally faced him, and after an awkward shuffle, and pace in place to get up my courage, I looked him in those golden eyes.
"Listen… you-" I pointed a finger at him, waggling it like a mother to a child. "You. Just stay there alright." He cocked an eyebrow, and I had to take another breath, 'You- you can't, you know.' I dropped my voice in the quietest whisper, glancing around, "You can't get all… vampire, on me okay? You can't kill me, right? Death isn't on my calendar for today, and-... And Alice would be really cross-"
"If I was going to kill you," he walked toward me, eyes narrowing, "I would pick somewhere with fewer people. Where no one could hear you scream."
I would have expressed shock at the slight southern drawl that came from his mouth if I didn't feel the breath leave me at his words. Then I saw the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.
I wagged my finger again, "Don't make those types of jokes!"
"Who said I was joking?"
"Me. I did. I have decided you are joking." I took in his lack of emotion, "though your general lack of expression indicates to me that you might not be capable of fun."
"Alice thinks I'm fun."
"Yes well, Alice would think a rock is fun." I look at him, mouth twisting. I tightened my grip on my bag, "Why are you here."
"I need to talk to you."
"About?"
Japer's eyebrow rises again as if to say 'isn't it obvious?'
My body screamed. I do NOT need this today.
"Haha," I forced a smile that even I knew looked painful, "right well I've actually got some things I have to do, gonna be jam-packed today. No time for any conversations. Busy, busy, busy."
No response. I saluted the vampire, turning and walking away again.
Those damn footsteps, AGAIN. LEAVE ME ALONE.
I stomped my foot. "Fine! Fine, you want to talk let's talk. But if you try and do anything dodgy, I'm calling Alice!"
I twiddled my fingers together, trying to let the sounds of the coffee shop distract from the extreme awkwardness I was feeling.
I bit my lip, lifting my coffee to my lips, taking a loud sip. I held the mug in my hands tightly, hoping the warmth from it will take away the cold that had taken over my body, unnerved by his neverending stare.
"So-"
"What are your intentions with Alice?"
I stare at him for a moment, "what do you mean?"
"What are you trying to gain?" His expression was stony, he was so hard to read.
I was taken aback, insulted almost, "Gain? I don't want to gain anything. She's my friend."
"You haven't seen her in years-"
"And that means I can't care about her?"
"The timing is just interesting, with what you know."
"I was friends with her before I even knew about, all that!" I hissed back. "I dunno how it is for you vam-... you lot, but for most of us humans, a couple of years doesn't make us just forget who our friends were."
He didn't respond, just continued staring at me. I went on, "Alice seems perfectly capable of looking after herself you know, I don't think I'm likely to hurt her any time soon."
"Not physically, maybe. But Alice is too kind, too trusting…"
"You think I'm going to tell everyone in Forks, is that it?"
"It's a possibility."
In a way, I understood his fear, but I couldn't help but feel furious at the accusation.
"You're angry," he said.
"Of course, I'm angry! I would never betray Alice like that! I've only just got her back." I hissed at him, "And you know what? It terrifies me. All of this. I can barely comprehend what the hell is going on! What she is, terrifies me, and knowing any day I could wake up and the people I care about could be killed... I could be killed because I know what your family is! But I chose to get involved! I'm a grown woman and need to deal with the consequences of being too bloody nosey! I have a lot of people I want to keep safe, including Alice! That's is why I would never tell anyone!" despite being relatively quiet, I glance around to make sure no one was listening, "Alice has that weird power, she sees things right? Tell me, has she had any indication that I'm going to stab her in the back."
I can see Jasper analysing me, taking in my stance, my expression, even the way I held my coffee mug.
"No… not yet."
"Then why are you trying to scare me!"
For the first time, I think I saw a flicker of emotion across his perfect face.
"I am very protective of Alice. She means a lot to me. And I don't trust you, no matter what she says."
"She means a lot to me too," I can sense there's a story there, but I sure as hell wasn't going to ask Jasper for it, "Maybe we have more in common than we think."
The breath of a laugh escaped his lips and he sat back in his chair, "I very much doubt that."
It was almost more unsettling seeing him so casual. I tapped my fingers against my mug.
"So… Are you going to kill me then?" It was almost baffling how easily those words came out of my mouth, as though I was talking about some food I ate the other day.
Jasper cocked his head to the side, contemplating. "I haven't decided."
"Oh, you haven't decided? That's comforting. Saying you'll maybe kill me is just a peg under you'll definitely kill me on the fear scale."
His lips twitch again, "you're scared."
"Oh really? How could you tell?" sarcasm dripped off of my words.
This time he full-on smirked, eyes flashing, "I felt it."
"You felt it." He nodded, "wow, that is one of the creepiest things anyone has ever said to me. Well done."
He inclined his head at me.
"What does that even mean?" I asked, practically talking to myself at this point. "You know what, I don't even want to know, don't tell me. I bet you're just trying to scare me right?... Jasper?"
In my ramblings I hadn't noticed how tense he had become, but not in the same way as before. He seemed… nervous. It was rather unsettling how statue-like he had become, eyes wide, nostrils flaring slightly.
"Are you okay?" I asked hesitating. He seemed so focused like he was restraining himself.
I looked around, trying to figure out what was wrong. It was then that I noticed how busy the coffee shop had become since we had walked in, it was almost…. Claustrophobic. I looked back at him.
I pushed my chair back, standing. The sound seemed to get his attention somewhat.
"Um… do you want to leave."
He stands almost too quickly, but no one seemed to notice. "Yes."
"Okay…" I whispered, I had to walk fast to keep up with his fast pace as he left the shop, walking into the cool afternoon air. His back was to me, and I could see a shudder run throughout his body, so violent, like electric.
I slowly move toward him, and with extreme hesitance, I placed a hand onto his arm. I jumped back slightly at how quickly his face turned to mine, and at the almost fear in his eyes as he looked at my hand.
I quickly retracted it, the cool feeling of his arm lingering on my skin, "Sorry," I whispered.
He didn't speak for a moment, still looking at the spot my hand had been. "It's fine…"
I take a step back, putting a bit of space between us. "You seem like the one who's scared now."
His eye's flashed, "I'm fine."
I almost scoffed, "Are you sure about that?' taking in his stance again, I soften, 'Are you really okay?"
His eyes narrow, "Why do you care?"
I recoil, annoyance flooding my veins, "It's called being nice, maybe you've heard of it."
He scowls, then looks away. When he looks back he seems to have regained control over whatever it was that affecting him so strongly. "...I'm sorry."
I almost laughed at how uncomfortable he looked, how hard those words seemed to be for him to get out. "You don't apologise very often do you?"
"No. Though that's because I'm usually right."
I raise an eyebrow, laughing, "Yeah you do look like someone who would think that."
Hiking my bag upon my shoulder, I begin to walk away. This time I don't hear the footsteps. I turn to face him.
"Come on."
"What?" He doesn't move.
"Let's go."
"You want me to follow you now?" his brows furrow.
"Well this little chat has wasted some of my shopping time, so you can carry my shopping bags as an apology." I hesitate. "And then we're going to go and see the rest of your family."
Shock flashed across his face, and he begins to come toward me, "I'm not sure that's such a good idea, some of my family isn't too pleased after you broke into our home."
I cringed, and it didn't take much thought to figure out who those family members might be. "I know… But I hate this feeling of uncertainty, and I'm sure your family feels the same. I dunno if it will help, but- but I think I need to do this."
Jasper stops before me, and I look him straight in the eye, my body shaking slightly with nerves, but my stare holding firm, telling him I'm serious.
"Alright. But just know I can't promise things will go well."
I nod firmly, letting out a breath. God, why do I keep doing this to myself.
"Are you finished?" Jasper grumbled, annoyance clear on his face, patience quickly dwindling.
I exited the bakery, a bag full of pastries in hand. Jasper stood before me, bags from the shops I had previously visited hanging from his hands.
I smirk at the sight, "you would make a good butler or something you know."
His scowl is dark, and an unnatural animalistic grumble leaves him.
I laugh nervously, hurrying forward, "haha, just kidding, let me take those. Please don't hurt me."
I pulled the bags from him, taking care to avoid touching him. I had significantly more trouble carrying the bags than he did, but I start walking regardless.
He rolled his eyes, then, rather aggressively, took some of the bags from my arms.
I give him a toothy grin of thanks, but he just gave me a dark look in return.
WHY is he so scary.
Walking down the street we don't speak, and the atmosphere is a mixture of awkward tension, and comfortable silence. It makes me nervous, not quite trusting the calm between us.
We draw closer to my car, but I stopped abruptly. "Wait! Give me two minutes!" Hurrying off, I entered a nearby shop, leaving a confused Jasper in my wake.
A few minutes later I reappeared, two large bouquets of flowers in hand.
"What are those for?" Jasper asks.
"Well, ones for my mom and ones for yours." I start toward the car, feeling Jasper's presence follow behind me.
"For Esme?" His eyes narrow, "Why?" he asks suspicious, that stony emotion overcoming him again.
"We're going back to that whole, it's called being nice, thing." I pull out my car keys as we approach. "She's always been nice to me the few times I've met her, she seems like a nice person…. Vampire… vampire-person?"
We placed the bags into the back of the car, and I turned to Jasper, "...and I broke into her house and in hindsight that seems a bit rude."
Jasper hums, still suspicious, but seemed to accept my answer. "I'll meet you there then." he turns, walking away.
'Wait!' fear floods my body, and I wring my hands, "can you… come with me?"
I can see from his expression, that Jasper is confused at my request, so I continue, slightly more meek than I have been, "I just… I know it sounds weird, okay, and if Alice was here I would ask her, but she's not, and I just- It's scary okay! And I just need someone to be with me when I arrive."
He cocks his head, "...and I'm the one to do that?"
I scowl, embarrassed, "trust me if I had other options I would pick them."
He thinks for a moment, then walks to the passenger side door. He hesitates to get in, "You know, you're not the smartest of people. You're willingly walking into the lion's den."
"Don't think I'm not scared. My way of coping with things is to sort of just ignore them until I can't anymore. Hence all of the shopping." I laugh awkwardly, but Jasper doesn't copy me. Instead, he watches, very serious.
"When it comes to our kind, that's the stupidest decision you can make, because by the time you can't ignore it anymore it'll be too late for you."
And with that he enters the car, leaving me with a heavy feeling in my stomach. Am I in over my head? I already knew the answer.
I climbed into the car and began to drive. Each minute felt like an hour and I couldn't help but glance at the presence beside me, both wary of how easy it would be for him to turn and snap my neck, and curious as to why he has continued to humour me throughout the day? Why did he agree to follow me around while I bought silly things, why did he agree to come with me in the car when it was easier for him to just run back? When he clearly didn't trust me?
"Eyes on the road." He barely moved when saying it, simply continuing to stare out the window ahead of him.
"Sorry", I squeaked, flushing from the embarrassment of getting caught staring. The rest of the drive was silent, but my brain was wide awake with thoughts. Entering Forks once more, I followed the familiar road, passing Addy's house, continuing until I came to the road leading straight to the vampires. I turn, driving down the winding road.
"I see you didn't need any instructions."
I cringed, sliding down the seat slightly. I didn't answer. My body was freezing up, and my sweaty hands clenched the wheel tightly. All too soon the sight of the grand Cullen residence comes into view, and I feel my stomach turn.
Please don't throw up.
I come to a stop in front of the house. I don't know how long I sat there, just staring at the house in a scared daze. I'm not ready! I want to go back, to go home.
I jumped when the car door opened. Jasper stood on the other side, watching me. I didn't even hear him get out.
"Come on," he said, "they're all waiting."
