"Alright class, just a reminder that Monday is our duel lecture with Professor Monkovich. She and her students from Literature as Moral Inquiry, will be joining us here at our normal class time, so the lecture hall will be a bit more full than usual." Dr. Stanish clapped his hands, which was their usual cue for dismissal.
Jasper's mind had whirled throughout the lecture and he'd just barely focused back in enough to gather his things and start the walk to his next class, the lecture had something to do with popular music and the effect on the ethical outlook of its consumers. He knew he could review what had happened in class with perfect clarity, perks of being a vampire, but the forefront of his mind had been focused on the downward spiral his thoughts always fell into when thinking about Isabella Swan. This time, he'd wondered how she had stood up to Edward and told him he needed to leave. With all of the infatuation pouring off of the couple he would have never predicted they would separate so quickly and cleanly. If you could count Edward hunting Victoria, to protect the human he was still obsessed with, a clean break. Infatuation usually ends messy on both sides, neither side willing to commit to staying or leaving and causing more harm than good. So Jasper must have really fucked up and scared the girl if she was willing to push Edward away so quickly.
If he would have hunted before the party things would be different. If he hadn't been so focused on stopping Edward, Bella wouldn't have gotten hurt. If he hadn't been so focused on controlling Edwards' hunger, Bella might not have sent his family away. If he had been able to protect Bella, his family might still be together. If he would have exercised more control over the past half century instead of letting the family clean up his messes, his wife might have stuck around.
This trail of thoughts was nothing new. He had been wondering more or less the same thing and berating himself just as hard, if not harder for the past year. If he hadn't messed up that night everything would still be normal. His family would still be in Forks and everyone would still be happy.
He must've been projecting as he started his walk back towards his car, because his phone rang with a name that didn't appear too often. He contemplated ignoring it, just to give himself a few minutes alone, but gave in.
Jasper felt his mood lift just enough before he pressed accept and raised the phone to his cheek. His accent fell right into place when he said, "What the hell d'you want you bastard?"
Peter's chuckle echoed across the phone and he grumbled out "You know you only picked up because it was me."
It was true. In his previous mood Jasper would not have picked up for the other members of his family. Jasper hardly ever heard from his brother of war, but he always managed to be there when it was important. Peter and Charlotte's last visit had been to Forks a year and a half ago and that had been cut short because of Edward's paranoia over human drinking vampires being in the same town as his Bella. Look at how far that had gotten them.
Peter's voice broke through the phone again a little harsher than before and Jasper knew Peter's call wasn't just a friendly hello. Peter's calls always had a purpose, "I'm not sensing any self deprecation over there am I Major? I thought I told you to get over that."
Jasper straightened up at the sound of his military title. He felt like he had been roughly shoved out of his role as a college student. Jasper huffed out a sharp laugh and nearly growled, "No more than usual," though he hadn't meant to. Peter was not his therapist but he was nosier than one.
"It wasn't your damn fault Major." Peter growled back. He must have really had it with Jasper's moping if he was only using his title.
Jasper sighed, they'd had this exact conversation days after Alice had left and again in the days after Alice had called to explain herself. They shouldn't expect her back soon and Jasper should not follow her. That was an order. They had been a pair, not mates, and that was over. Jasper had never felt such a big shock in his existence. Even finding out he was a vampire and that he would never be able to see his human family again was overshadowed by the violent urge to feed. Alice leaving and calling their marriage an arrangement had him gasping for breaths he didn't really need.
Peter had been the one to call him and convinced him to get his ass up off the floor both times. It had been worth it. He almost felt like he had a purpose now, even if the purpose was only to develop the kind of strength that came so naturally to Carlisle. Peter, of course, hadn't wanted anything but for Jasper to stop wallowing in self-pity. Peter understood why Jasper had to abstain from the normal vampire lifestyle but that didn't mean he was going to give it up for himself.
Jasper relented, "So you've said." He lifted his hand to grab the strap of the bag hanging over his shoulder, bracing himself. He and Peter both fought with logic but recently it felt like they were pulling from different pools and Jasper wished he had access to Peter's.
He wanted to visit Peter and Charlotte but last time he brought it up, Peter had told him Esme needed him. It was true. Esme was a wreck and he couldn't let her think all of her children had abandoned her. If anything, this event had brought them closer together. He could not remember a time before this that he and Esme had spent so much time together. Recently, he had been going out of his way to help her renovate the 18th century house she was working on, on the weekends. Now though, he knew Rosalie and Emmett were going to come home, at least for a short time, in a week or two. That could be enough for Esme and Carlisle. Two children to support them while one went to visit an old friend. Yeah. Jasper had convinced himself.
He readied himself again and eased into the conversation like the courteous southern boy he was, "Well Peter, you and Char have been so kind to visit me for years. You are always making the trip to see me, wherever the Cullens take me and it's not that I don't love when you come and visit but it is always so short. How would you feel if I came to visit for a few months this winter?"
Peter hmmed and huffed over the phone but Jasper felt the no before Peter said it. "You know I really miss you brother but now's not the right time." Jasper could hear Charlotte in the background asking why it wasn't the right time. He'd like to know as well but Peter didn't let on. Instead, he continued rather calmly but sternly and Jasper had the impression he was speaking to Char too, "You need to stay where you are for now. No, I don't know why so don't give me any of that shit."
Peter must have a hunch. Jasper hated not knowing why but he trusted Peter. It's just, why would one of Peter's hunches tell him that he needed to stay in goddamned Ithaca, NY? It wasn't that Peter had the ability to see the future, because he would vehemently deny it. He also couldn't see things as they were in the present or past, but anyone who knew Peter knew that he had a knack for just knowing nonspecific details and having vague feelings about things. Most of the time these things came in really handy and a couple of times it had saved their asses. Jasper had a feeling that Peter's knack for knowing things played a big part in how he and Char had been able to successfully escape the Newborn Army nearly a century ago and then again when Peter successfully snuck back into camp years later to convince Jasper to leave.
In his distracted state, Jasper nearly took out the person walking in front of him in the quad, who'd stopped to tie his shoe and snapped back to the conversation. Whatever the hunch was, it must have been really strong because he could hear Peter nearly snap at him mate, "He needs to stay where he is. We need to stay where we are. For now," Peter struggled to slow his speech and lower his voice, "we all need to let things take their course." He kept talking though, which was unusual for Peter because usually he was a cryptic bastard when it came to it. "You, though Major, need to do what the humans say and get a grip."
Jasper could feel a lecture lurking and headed down a fork in the path that would take him the longer, more deserted, way around the library. Lord knew he didn't need any of the humans overhearing what Peter would next have to say.
Peter took the time to steel himself and Jasper knew they were going back to topic A. Peter had been spouting the same things since the Cullens had moved but there was a conviction, now, in Peter's voice that told him this wasn't just life advice, it was a hunch. "You did nothing wrong that night and I will tear the head off of anyone who dares say otherwise. You realize you are a goddamn empath right?" He said this a matter-of-factly and didn't stop to wait for an answer. "You've been dealing with the rest of the coven's thirst for half a century and sure sometimes you slipped but that was only when you were a god damn wreck about yourself thanks to the judgment of your so-called family." He said the word like a curse. "Ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy?" If vampires could get winded, Jasper imagined Peter would be right now.
Jasper was passing in front of the Olin library's quad facing windows when Peter spoke again. "We have talked about that night, time and time again, Major. At no point did you describe wanting to feast on that little girl. For fuck's sake you have said it in your own words! You were only trying to protect her from Edward. She was his fucking singer! And if you felt a bit crazed after peeling that off of Eddie-boy I'm not surprised! Do you know how many people find their singer and don't make them their next meal? If anything Edward needs to be thanking you for saving his ass!" Peter certainly felt justified and his point may have started to seep into Jasper's subconscience… a little.
He still felt Peter had moderately insulted him though, so he bit back, "What are you talkin to me about family for?"
Jasper and Peter traded jibes back and forth as Jasper rounded the building, still heading for his car, but he was once again stopped in his tracks. He stopped paying attention to whatever was coming out of Peter's mouth and took a long drag of the air. Chocolate, wine, fressia, hung in the air for the second time that day. There was no god damned way that couldn't be Isabella Swan. The scent was fresh, even more so than the last one. She had to have passed between these two buildings less than a half and hour ago.
Jasper's mind went into overdrive, trying not to crush the phone still clutched in his hand. He moved, far quicker than he should for a vampire on a college campus, to follow the scent. The scent was emanating from between the two buildings, but was concentrated on the stairwell and the main entrance to the library.
Jasper was petrified but marched forward. If it was really her what would that mean for him and his family? What if she saw him? Would she be mad? Why was she here? He grit his teeth. He needed to find out if it was really her or not.
He braced himself, grabbed a hold of the library door handle, and stalked his way inside at a more human pace. Passers by could still hear someone shouting from his phone and when Jasper recognized this he simply ordered, "Peter, shut up." The command was quiet, but it was enough for the other vampire to hear him.
He stalked his way through the lobby, scanning the students around him, and probably creeping some of them out too. He picked his way carefully through the moving crowd of students, gazing out across giant study tables facing the windows to the quad. Tables were full of students working. There were plenty of brunettes but none of them had the same curve to their shoulders or the same set in their jaw as Isabella Swan. Good, if she wasn't in the study section, that made it far less likely that she had already seen him. Then, he noticed the rich scent lead him to the left of where he had come in, rather than into the study section. Jasper moved stealthily towards the windows of the library's cafe and peered into the closed off space, eyes scanning the lines, the workers, and the tables crowded with students.
If he hadn't been looking specifically for her, he didn't think he would have noticed her. Isabella Swan sat hunched over a table, laptop and drink in front of her, chewing on the end of her straw.
For a moment he couldn't move. Unlike all of those years in battle, he did not react, instead he watched and pondered. He observed her as she sipped on her frozen drink and typed away on her computer. He watched her huff and dig around in her bag on the floor. What was she doing at Cornell? Had she been looking for them? She took out a textbook and began rapidly flipping through pages looking for just the right one before she stopped and slouched back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other and leaning the text against her knee. Why would she end up on this specific campus if it wasn't them? What was she going to think if she did find out they were here?
Jasper lifted his phone towards his face and croaked out "Peter, I have to go," before letting the call end.
Then, Jasper did what he had never done when attacked, something he would later convince himself was planned and strategic. He ran.
Out of the library and across campus, he almost didn't stop to get his car but was afraid that if he'd left it there she might see it and recognize it somehow. Then, He drove back to the house as fast as he could.
Jasper had called Carlisle and Esme on the ride home. Only letting them know that he needed to see them as soon as possible. They had decisions to make. He had also tried to call Rosalie and Emmett, to let them know about the developments but those calls ended, no voicemail set up on either of their phones. He contemplated calling Edward or even Alice, but the squeezing feeling in his chest made him reconsider. Neither of them wanted to hear from him.
When he arrived at the house, both Carlisle and Esme were standing under the awning, door open behind them. It was too early for Carlisle to be on shift yet and Esme would have made it home from the house she was working on easily before he had. When he nodded in greeting though, they both headed back inside the house, and he followed.
Carlisle started before Jasper could form words, worry and curiosity obvious in his tone, "Jasper?" but Jasper could feel more than that. Carlisle was trying to maintain a sense of composure but he was as high strung as he could get, which could be seen in the way his arm was wrapped securely around Esme's shoulders as they stood in the living room. Esme on the other hand was an anxious mess, worry seeping off of her in waves.
Jasper didn't know where to start. His thoughts had been in a rut all day and kept coming back to one thing, over and over. So he started, his voice taut. "Isabella Swan," he could feel the shock press through the air towards him but he continued, "I caught a waft of her scent before class today and brushed it off. I shouldn't have though, I was able to follow it to the library just moments before I called both of you. She's here, in Ithaca."
Jasper didn't know whether he had expected to feel panic or what but most of what he felt coming off the pair was a deep yearning and heartache. Esme would be in tears if she could shed them. She turned and tucked herself into Carlilse's side as he wrapped his arms around her. For Carlisle, the feeling wasn't nearly as strong but Jasper would reckon nearly all of the man's worry had vanished.
Carlisle was the first one to speak, "Bella is in Ithaca?" at Jasper's nod he continued, "Attending Cornell?" Jasper could feel Carlisle's curiosity peak and a pitch of worry creep in.
Jasper squared his shoulders. "It appears that way." He started thinking about the effort Edward had made to get them away from Bella at her wishes. There was no way she would want to see them. "I caught her scent in the quad and followed it to the library. She's most likely taking classes there."
Carlisle hmmed and Esme peeled herself from his neck to look at his face. She whispered heartbroken, "What do we do? What about Edward?"
Jasper spoke up, matter-of-factly, "We should leave."
He was on the receiving end of two very surprised expressions, one more hurt than the other, but Carlisle leveled him with a look that said he wasn't going to let Jasper make the decision for the whole coven. "Jasper, we just settled again. Half our family isn't even here to have input in the matter."
Jasper bristled at Carlisle's modulated tone. Away from the shock of Isabella's scent he was able to think, to strategize, to rationalize. He wanted a plan and he believed he knew the needs of all of the members who should have a say, which mostly included his own fears. So he insisted, "Edward nearly dragged us out of Forks at the wishes of this girl. If we are going to put up that much effort initially to give her space then shouldn't we afford her that now?" He placed a hand on the back of the couch and lifted one to gesture, trying to emanate the sense of calm he wished he would feel, but an anxiety kept creeping over him about what she would think and what she would say if she had the opportunity to confront him.
Esme continued to look hurt but spoke rather softly with a bit of hope in her voice. "Cornell is a big campus." She looked at Carlisle imploring him to agree with her, "I am sure we can still give Bella her space, she doesn't even need to know we are here."
Carlisle nodded with Esme and Jasper felt dread slowly start to replace the anxiety in his stomach. "Esme is right. You are the only one on the campus Jasper, and if you want to withdraw for the semester that is your own choice, but it should be easy enough for you to avoid her. We will wait until a few more of us come back and then we will discuss a more permanent place to settle again but until then, I think we can manage." He smiled fondly at Jasper, reminding him that he wasn't just a son to Esme. "You are a vampire with decades of experience strategizing. How hard could it be for you to evade and avoid a human girl?"