It took Safina two days to remember how much she hated hospitals. The tape holding her IV in her arm was itching her skin and her fingernails never breached the bandage so her arm was covered in pointless bright red scratches. She swore they used artificial lights to make sure people knew they were alive but they became too bright as they bounced off the white walls, sheets, and furniture and they hurt her eyes. Most importantly, the hospital food tasted awful, like they had used substitutes for everything that tasted good. Safina was becoming restless, only sitting for hours at a time watching old reruns of shows that weren't funny in the 90s either.
Eventually, after weeks of physical therapy, Carlisle cleared Safina to go home. Though, she would still have to do outpatient rehab, which caused her to groan and Jasper to stifle a laugh.
"Jazz, I'm sure Gabe could have driven me home."
"Gabe's a bit...busy."
Safina furrowed her brows at this and hoped they weren't planning something. It was at that moment that Jasper realized: no one had told Safina about Gabriel and Alice. He hoped she wouldn't notice the guilty look on his face, as they had spent weeks going on sporadic dates and shopping trips, with love in their eyes and light kisses.
When Jasper had gotten the last of Safina's bags - all in one trip - they reached the large oak door which Jasper insisted on opening. As soon as they reached the living room, it seemed like everyone Safina had ever met in Forks was there. She took note of how Gabe's arm was wrapped around Alice's delicate waist, but put it on the back burner.
"You guys didn't have to do this!" Tears welled in the teens eyes as she hugged her parents.
Cherie kissed her daughter's forehead, "We know. Just figured a little get together was appropriate."
"A little get together? This is everyone I know!" Everyone laughed and soon Renesmee bounded up to Safina, pulling her into a hug.
"Nessie, you just saw me yesterday," the brunette laughed.
"So?" Nessie asked playfully as she pulled her best friend onto the back patio. "What's the haps with you and Jazz?"
Safina felt her cheeks get warm. Nessie did too. "Me and Jazz? What about you and Jacob?"
"Me and Jacob?" Renesmee was confused, "He's like my brother!"
"But the first day I met you guys on the beach…" Safina referred to how he held her.
"Yeah, I was cold, he's warm. Besides, I have my eye on another guy - who's NOT 17 years older than me!"
They both giggled and turned towards the door when they heard it creak open. Jasper appeared outside with a jacket, placing it over Safina's shoulders. He lightly kissed the corner of her mouth, laughing as she shivered. With that, he went inside. It was then that Seth, the boy Safina remembered from the beach, rushed outside, a large blanket in his hands.
"Uh, Nessie, do you maybe want this blanket?" Even he cringed at his words.
"Maybe," Nessie responded with a sly smile.
He gently laid it on her body, blushed harder than Safina's ever seen anyone blush before, then went inside. Quirking an eyebrow at the red-haired hybrid, she was met with red cheeks and dazed green eyes.
The next day, Saturday, Safina found herself in Jasper's bedroom, looking through a stack of what appeared to be first edition history books. She sat on his bed, taking in how stiff it was, probably from having never been used, flipping through the delicate pages with light fingers.
"Have you read all of these?" Jasper barely noticed her question, too busy planting kisses on her collarbones.
"Some more than five times," he said as he moved Safina's curly hair away from her neck, his cold lips following his cooler touch. She shivered and moved her head to the side, giving him further access.
Jasper did not care as he heard her pulse point below her neck, as his thirst was for something much different than her blood.
"Have you ever considered - ah - giving classes at - ah - colleges," she bit her lip to stifle the sounds.
"Done it." His lips explored her jawline, eventually finding her own - much warmer - mouth.
At that point, something snapped in Safina, a tight cord pulled too hard for too long. She threw her leg over his and pushed him into the mattress, trailing her nails lightly down his clothes torso. She reconnected their lips and he took a moment to memorize the softness of hers, until she moved her lips to his neck. Her skin, he noticed, felt like fire in comparison to his own and he hoped the flames left marks in their wake. Just so he could feel that alive all the time. Her hands gently pulled at the strands of honey blonde hair she loved so much and his nails scraped down her arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
She began to unbutton his shirt, noticing but not acknowledging the hundreds, if not thousands, of bite marks that were embedded in his marble skin. He let her, and if possible, fell even more in love with her.