Brain Worms

I ran. As soon as she looked away I ran as fast as I could back to the house before I was completely consumed by my need for her. Once in my study I slammed the door shut, breathing heavily. What the fuck. I felt like I just saw a ghost. My hands were somehow shaky and my body felt on edge. My metaphorical hackles were raised.

Turning the shower to rippin' hot I stripped and got in. The heat calmed my body but did nothing for my spent nerves. Or my raging hard on. The image of her was burned into my retinas. Every time I closed my eyes I saw her, all blood and hips and thighs and curls, staring back at me with that haunting look. Taunting me. Tempting me. Everything about her was enthralling. The ease with which she worked. The little 'v' that formed between her brow when she was concentrating. The sound of her voice when she hummed, when she spoke.

The balls on that girl to stare me down, a lethal predator. To stand her ground. To show no fear. To envoke such a reaction from me. Me. Who was she to frolic around the forest looking so delicious? Begging some unsuspecting creature of the night to gobble her up. I was infuriated with how captivated I was by her. My frustration reached a boiling point and I tugged at myself roughly, seeking any sort of relief. A hiss of pleasure escaped my lips when I finished, but my efforts did nothing to sate my hunger for her.

Stepping out and toweling off I got dressed. The rest of the family had gone for a hunt before their obligations to work and school, so the house was empty. I stood in the middle of my study, thankful that Twatward wasn't around to hear my spiralling thoughts. I didn't know what to do with myself. Part of me wanted to find her, if only to prove that she was real. That she wasn't some fever dream or hallucination brought on by a deer with brain worms. The other part of me wanted to leave. My fight or flight instincts were jacked up, and I definitely don't want to fight her. Although I could be talked into a little mud wrestling. Get control of yourself man.

I could go see Peter and Char for a bit, clear my head. I'm not sure I could tell him the reason behind my visit though, he would never let me live it down. The Major, running from a little girl because she looked like Zeus and Leto's daughter in the flesh. Oh, he would laugh for weeks. Finally, with a plan in mind I throw a travel bag together. As I'm heading out the door of my study my phone rings. Peter. Of course. With a sigh I answer it.

"What?"

"Ooh the Major is moody tonight." He said in a sing song voice.

"You wanna see how moody I am? I'll be there in two hours."

"No you won't."

"The fuck I won't."

"Let me rephrase that. I got this gut feeling, right?" Oh here we go. Another one of Pete's feelings. He says he just knows shit sometimes. The only reason I listen is because I know the man. I trust his instinct, whether his gut is gifted or not.

"Let me guess, whatever you're gonna tell me is gonna be the exact opposite of what I want." I said, my drawl becoming more pronounced as my frustration rose.

"Yup." He said cheerily, popping the 'p'. "You need to stay with the Cullens for now. We'll get together when the time is right." Damn him.

"Why?"

"You know I don't know the why's, Major. And though we'd love to see you, I just have this feeling that you're right where you need to be for now."

"This is the last place I need to be right now." I bit out.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No." I said with a growl. Nosey prick.

"Touchy touchy. It must be a her we're not talking about. Don't tell me it's Alice, I mean she's nice and all for a pixie but..."

"Good bye Peter."

"Bye brother, oh and one more thing-" I hung up before he could finish. He can ream me a new one later. I sighed and tossed my bag on the bed. I was being ridiculous, war lords don't get all flustered by little girls in the woods. No matter how good they smell.

I heard the family start to filter in. Esme was chatting quietly with Carlisle while he got ready for work. Edward and Alice were cleaning up before heading to school and Rose and Emmet were... otherwise preoccupied, if their moans and heavy breathing were any indication. I crossed the room and picked up the book Alice had thrown earlier, a collection of Civil War documents and letters. Sitting on the worn leather chair I tucked into my book, determined to clear my head. I made it two pages before my thoughts wandered back to those woods.

"Jasper, who is that?" I heard Edward say with bewilderment. He was shocked, just as I had been, by the sight of her. He was also very disturbed by his attraction to her. His victorian upbringing prohibited him from accepting the nature of what he was. Of what he desired. I had no such problems. I quickly busied myself with translating my book into Cantonese.

"Stay out of my head Edward." I tried to swallow the growl back but was unsuccessful.

"Why was she covered in blood? What was she doing to that deer?" I could feel the rest of the family's piqued interest at his words. I had to end this. I switched tactics and mentally replayed for him some of my favorite highlights from my time in the south. I felt his emotional recoil immediately, and I sent him a good dose of fear to top it off. "Are you done?" I asked while making my way through the house to the garage, ignoring the many sets of eyes that followed me. I didn't wait for a response as I got on my bike and took off.

Most of the next week was spent this way. I filled my days with menial tasks. Anything to keep myself occupied. I worked on my truck, helped Esme dig a trench for her new garden, played video games with Em, arranged and rearranged my library nine times, anything. When I would inevitably run out of things to do I would storm out and go for a drive. I took my bike up and down the coast countless times to clear my head, but to no avail. And like clockwork I would return to that same spot every night, in the hopes of seeing her.

Luckily, Twatward took off for Alaska after his singer showed up in the form of a new student, so I was free to obsess over the woodland goddess without reproach. Alice was determined to make friends with this new student, saying she was special. Important. I couldn't be bothered to care. If people thought I was withdrawn before, they probably think I'm downright catatonic now. Even Emmet had noticed.

"Dude what's wrong with you? You just let me beat you twice." We were sitting in our usual spots on the floor, playing some new game he was all hyped for. "Do you have brain worms or something?"

"I've just been.. distracted lately." I said lamely. What was I supposed to say?

"Definitely sounds like brain worms, man. You should have Carlisle check you out." He chuckled, bumping shoulders with me. When he realized the sour look was still on my face, he continued.

"Why the long face cowboy? You've been walking around like you saw a ghost." I would have told most people to fuck off, but Emmet had this way about him. His emotions were always so light hearted and honest. He was genuinely concerned, but not overly pushy.

"I feel like I've seen a ghost." I started slowly, not really knowing how to explain. "Have you ever seen something as a vampire, something that can't be real? Our eyes don't play tricks on us, our memory is flawless, but I couldn't have seen what I thought I saw. It felt real, but.."

"Once." He said quietly, staring off into the distance. He had this far away look in his eyes as I waited for him to continue, but he never did. Just then his phone chimed, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Ooh, Eddie got back early this morning and there's already problems." He said, quickly reading the text. "Something about him saving his singer from being crushed in the school parking lot. Alice is taking her to see Carlisle now." Great. On top of everything I would now have to deal with Edwards bloodlust. Everyone thinks I'm the one struggling with control, but if they had any idea how close he was to going off the deep end they'd be all over him. Figures, their golden boy spends all day dreaming about eating people.

Minutes later Edward walked in, having left Alice his car. His emotions were bouncing all over the place, from anger to blood lust to frustration to guilt. One emotion stayed strong though. Fear. He was terrified of something or someone. It consumed him.

"So I gather you heard what happened today." I could hear the nerves in his voice as he spoke.

Emmet was the one to answer. "You saved a human from becoming road kill, right?"

"My singer, yes. She hit her head but Carlisle says she'll be fine. She'll be here with Alice shortly."

"She's coming here? Maybe that isn't such a good idea Eddie."

"Alice says it'll be fine. She didn't want to go home or something like that. It doesn't matter either way because we won't be here." He was almost panicking now, and my interest was piqued. Standing up, I turned to face him.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm curious though, what has you so nervous Edward?" I could feel his fear swell. He knew that I knew something was up. I didn't need to read his mind to know what he was thinking.

"Nothing." He said too quickly. Emmet shot me a glance. "I just don't think you should be around her, what with your lack of control."

"You're gonna lecture me on control? That's rich." I laughed, with no humor in my voice. "We both know my discipline and control far surpasses yours, even on your best day."

His eyes were shifty and his hands twitched. He was becoming more uncomfortable by the second. "Either way, we should take precaution with Alice's new friend."

"Alice would have called if she thought I shouldn't be here." We stared eachother down for what felt like hours until Emmet greatfully broke the awkward silence.

"Come on Ed, let's go for a hunt. Ali knows what she's doing." I expected him to argue, I could feel his reluctance to leave, but his fear was over powering and he flitted out the door with Em. Was he afraid of his singer? Afraid he'd loose control? Or was it someone else?

I heard a car pull up the drive way. Alice and her new human, it must be. I made myself scarce and headed for the kitchen, taking a seat. I'd have to wait to ask her about Edward's strange behavior. I heard them walk up the front steps, Alice talking enough for the both of them. As soon as they were in the house Alice spoke at a volume only I could hear.

"Hey Jazz."

"What." I sighed.

"Come here." I was tempted to ignore her, but her emotions were far too mischievous for her own good. I took an unnecessary deep breath and stood, only to freeze midway. The scent that had been haunting me for a week, the heart beat that echoed through my skull, it was here. She was here. In this very house. I ran like a madman, almost forgetting to move at human speed. I stood stock still in the door way, my eyes finally locking onto hers.

"I told you so."

AN: Thank you all so much for the support! Comments aren't showing up for me through the site, but I get them through email and I appreciate every last one. If anyone has advice on how to fix this, please let me know!