Disclaimer. All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc., are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 6: Getting to Know You
(Natalie's POV)
The rest of the week was rather uneventful. I got used to the routine of my classes and by Friday I was able to recognize, if not name, almost all of the students in my year. Gym was even getting easier for everyone as they finally learned not to pass Bella the ball, and I would step quickly in front of her if the other team tried to take advantage of her weakness. She was more than happy to stay out of our way.
I was really looking forward to spending time alone with Jasper tomorrow, and I knew that he was, as well. We had been getting more comfortable around each other as the week wore on, and continuously chatted throughout school day. He would also walk me to and from most of my classes, which had added to the gossip and stares from the student body. I had to admit, some of the chatter was making me feel a bit uneasy, particularly when Jessica had tried to ask me about it. I had no idea how to respond, especially since I didn't know most of the answers myself; I didn't want to put too much pressure on my budding friendship, or whatever this was, between Jasper and I.
I've thought about talking to Bella about it and asking her opinion, but she has been really distracted as of late due to the continued absence of Edward Cullen. He still hadn't shown back up at the school, and seeing my twin so stressed out like this was worrying. Everyday, Bella would watch anxiously until the rest of the Cullen's entered the cafeteria without him. Only then would she relax and join in on the lunchtime conversation.
Thankfully, recent talk amongst our friends has shifted to an upcoming trip to the La Push Ocean Park in two weeks that Mike was putting together. Bella and I were both invited and had agreed to go, more out of politeness than actual desire. Bella was of the opinion that beaches should be hot and dry, not cold and damp. I had actually enjoyed frequenting the La Push beaches when we'd come up to stay with Charlie during the summers. I'd loved exploring the tide pools and gathering buckets full of sea shells for my collection at home.
My reason for not wanting to go was centered around my worry of who we'd run into while we were there. I hadn't seen or spoken to Paul since that last dreadful summer four years ago, and, since he lived on the La Push reservation, chances were high that he would be hanging around. I'd tried to ask Jasper if he had wanted to go too, in hopes of making the trip more bearable. He seemed to be considering it up until he learned the location of where we were going. He had gotten a weird, anxious look on his face, then claimed that he would be busy going camping with his brothers that weekend at some place called Goat Rocks. It was a reasonable excuse, but I couldn't help but to feel slightly disappointed. He then began to warn me to be careful around there, despite my insistence that I was familiar with the area and it's locals, but this only seemed to make him worry more.
This only contributed to the growing list of oddities surrounding Jasper and his golden-eyed family. Not only did they seem somewhat different from any of the others in school, but some of the things about them were almost… other worldly. The more I got to know him, the more I discovered that some things just didn't add up. For example, the only sibling that Jasper had any blood relation to was his twin sister, Rosalie, and yet they all shared the same unique golden eyes that I had never seen another living person outside of their family before.
And then there was the constant anomalies that tended to happen when I was around him…
Since that first day we met, I've been experiencing that same nagging, tugging sensation in my chest. I can't explain how or why, but somehow I knew that if I were to follow the pull, it would lead me directly to Jasper. The best way I could describe it was like an invisible force was somehow tethering the two of us together; the further away from the other we were, the more the force would strain and pull until we were once again together, allowing it to slacken and relax. I would finally be able breathe easier and my senses would all come alive. I was constantly aware of him and always knew when he was nearby.
Then there were also these weird fluctuations with my emotions. The first time it happened was on Thursday, the following day after we'd made our plans. The constant staring and whispers had increased when people first began to notice that Jasper and I were publicly spending time together - as if it wasn't already uncomfortable enough being the new girl in town.
Jasper and I had just sat down together in Trig when Lauren Mallory made a rude comment about me to Tyler Crowley, being purposefully loud enough for me to hear.
"She really thinks she stands a chance with Jasper Hale? She's way too plain for him."
Her words had managed to reach my insecurities. I could feel my cheeks getting hot with embarrassment, anger and self-loathing as my fists balled tightly at my sides. Then, out of nowhere, I felt this wave of pure affection, calm and confidence sweep over me and through my body – the complete opposite of what I had been feeling only seconds before. It was intimately familiar and comforting, as if I was being consoled by some kind of empathic source.
By the end of the day, I had finally managed to write off the odd experience as a fluke, but something in the back of my mind was reassuring me that I had not imagined it, and I stored the information away for later.
It was now around 4:15pm on Saturday, and I had fifteen minutes left before Jasper was due here to pick me up. Luckily, I was just about ready to go, only having to finish with my mascara and put on my shoes. He had warned me to dress warm in preparation for the outdoors, so I wore a pair of denim jeans and a thick dark green sweater. My dark brown boots were sturdy with deep treads, and I had my hair pulled back out of my face in a half up half down style that made my thick curls look like a waterfall as they tumbled down my back.
After slipping on my jewelry, which always included my long golden locket, I decided was happy with my overall appearance.
The sound of the doorbell chiming from downstairs broke me out of my thoughts. I felt my heart skip a beat and sucked in a deep breath.
Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain radiated from my head, causing me to wince out loud and curse the appearance of another headache. My prescription pain medicine made me woozy sometimes, so instead, I left my bedroom in favor of the bathroom and opened up the medicine cabinet to grab the large bottle of Maximum Strength Excedrin Migraine we had grabbed from the grocery store on Tuesday instead. I flipped open the lid and poured a few tablets into my hand, popping them into the back my throat with a small cup of water and swallowed it down in one gulp.
"Natty?" I heard Charlie call from the bottom of the steps. "Jasper's here!"
"I'll be right there!" I yelled down to him as I gripped the edge of the sink trying to gain my composure. I only prayed that this was the last migraine I would be having tonight.
(Jasper's POV)
I knew that if I was still human, my palms would be clammy and my heart would be pounding out of my chest while I drove towards the Swan residence.
I have been waiting for Natalie Swan for over a century and a half. She was everything that I could've imagined she would be and more, and I was thrilled to start on our journey together, starting with tonight.
As if I needed the reminder, the invisible bond gave a slight tug in the direction I knew her to be in. As a human, I wasn't sure how much of the mating bond she was able to feel, but I knew she was sensing something between us that was out of the ordinary. Her emotions gave her away, as well as the endearing facial expressions she would make, pulling her bottom lip in between her teeth as she contemplated the unusual sensations she couldn't explain.
Speaking of unusual sensations, I had been a bit reckless when it came to using my empathic abilities around her, and I knew she was picking up on it. Much to my relief, she hadn't brought it up yet, not that I gave her the chance. I was not yet sure how to handle it, and, not wanting to outright lie to her, I'd decided to say nothing and dodge the situation entirely. I knew it was too soon for that specific discussion, and I didn't want to scare her off before we'd even had the chance to get to know each other. Due to my military upbringing, I always felt the need to have a plan going in, as well as a backup - just incase anything went wrong.
Not having seen her since yesterday at school, the strain from our separation had been steadily increasing. Thankfully, I knew there was an end in sight, and I began to count down the seconds in my head until I finally reached my destination.
This was a common occurrence in newly mated pairs; our instincts would constantly drive us to seek the other out until we could completely satisfy the mating bond. However, with Natalie being human, we weren't yet sure exactly how things would pan out, or what the repercussions would be for her. Carlisle was helping me with my research, reaching out to some of his many connections for a lead on what we could expect.
I took in a deep unneeded breath as I turned on to Natalie's street, driving up a little ways before parking my black BMW in the street in front of her house. I took note that both her sister and father were home due to the cruiser and the girls' Chevy was left parked in the driveway.
Shutting off the engine, I unhooked my seat belt and opened the door, sliding out to approach the Swan house. It was a cozy two story home that was mostly painted white with a dark green front door, matching the forest that surrounded the property line.
I straightened out my shirt before taking in a long breath of the untainted air. I couldn't believe how nervous I was; I mean me, Major Jasper Whitlock, was afraid of a human girl?
Peter would never let me live it down if he could see me right now.
And, just like magic, my phone vibrated in of my pocket causing me to snort as I pulled it out to read:
Quit pussy-footin' around and ring the damn bell already! - PWhitlock
Smirking, I gave a short reply and slipped the phone back into my pocket.
Asshole. – JW
I could hear that the television on inside was playing the Mariner's game, and I rang the doorbell before taking a step back. The creaking of a recliner followed by heavy footfalls alerted me to Charlie Swan's approach. I took a quick sample of his emotions, and I could tell that he was feeling skeptical, which didn't surprise me. What parent wouldn't be in his situation? Two seventeen year old daughters finally coming to live with him to finish high school? I'd vet the guy too.
The front door opened and the Chief gave me an appraising look.
"Good evening, sir." I greeted him with a polite nod of my head, keeping hands clasped tightly behind my back. "My name is Jasper, and I'm here to pick up Natalie."
He studied me briefly for a fraction of a second before returning with a subtle nod of his own. He seemed pleased with my respectful introduction.
"Evening, son," his voice was rough, but welcoming as he stepped back to let me inside. Closing the door behind us, he extended his hand. "Charlie Swan," he introduced himself.
"Jasper Hale." He didn't seem bothered by the coldness of my hands as I gave his a firm shake – one I reserved for human males.
"Why don't we take a seat in here while you wait on Natalie?" He gestured at the living room off to the right.
I stepped further into the heat-filled home, and the sweet scent of human blood brought the burn in my throat to attention. As a precaution, I had spent the entire night hunting until daybreak, and my eyes were a sated, light golden hue. I knew it was better to be safe than sorry, and I wasn't taking any chances.
Next, I noticed the smell of food cooking from the direction of the kitchen. From the emotional signature and the unique scent, I knew it was Bella, most likely preparing dinner for her and her father.
Before I could sit down, felt a foreign pain flood my empathic senses. Looking towards the stairs worriedly, I could sense that it was coming from Natalie, and alarm shot through me. I sent out my feelers to survey the upper part of the house, worried that my mate's safety was at risk. I relaxed a little when I found that she was the only emotional presence up there, meaning that she wasn't being attacked.
Chief Swan walked over to the foot of the stairs, yelling up to Natalie about my arrival. He waited until she responded before turning back to show me into the living room. Still keeping my gift focused on my mate, I watched as her father settled into his chair once more, motioning for me to sit.
"So, Jasper," he began, popping opening a fresh can of cold beer as I took a seat on the sofa next to an open window, sneaking in a cleansing breath from the fresh outside air. "You go to school with Natty and Bella?"
"Yes, sir. We're all in our junior year together."
He hummed in acknowledgement until his eyes then caught sight of my BMW through the large set of windows behind me. "Is that your car out there?"
"It is, sir," I admitted.
"That's a fast car," he murmured to himself, thinking that I couldn't hear him. He spoke up louder as he returned his attention back towards me with a serious expression, "You kids be sure to obey all the speed limits, and don't go flying around those sharp corners, you hear?"
"Yes, sir – of course. I would never do anything to endanger your daughter; you can count on that," I promised genuinely, sending a bit of trust and assurance in his general direction in an attempt to ease some of his worries.
"You can call me Charlie," he insisted, but I could sense that he was still wary of my overall intentions with his daughter, just as any good father would be.
"Okay – Charlie – thank you, sir," I responded, aware that he was indirectly giving me his blessing.
"You don't need to thank me," he replied, his voice gruff and low, "Just make sure you take good care of my daughter, and bring her home safely."
"I will, sir," I assured him. "Does Natalie have a specific time that she needs to be back by?"
He shook his head, "No, she doesn't have a curfew, and she has her own key to get inside. Just don't have her out too late."
"No, of course not," I agreed. "I will have her back by a reasonable hour - my parents would have my hide if I didn't."
Obviously, being over one-hundred and sixty-one years old, Carlisle and Esme wouldn't really object, but it was necessary to keep up with the human charade, which meant that I was only seventeen and still following the rules set forth by my adoptive parents.
Before anything more could be said, Bella walked into the living room with a plate for her father that was full of what looked to be lasagna. She froze when she saw me, not having noticed my arrival from her previous spot in the kitchen. Her face turned a beat red as she gave Charlie his plate.
"Thanks, Bells," he acknowledged her, looking appreciatively at the steam coming off of his meal.
"Hello, Bella," I greeted her as Charlie picked up the fork from on top of his plate and dug in to his dinner.
Her cheeks were still crimson as she responded with a soft 'hello', and I found myself suddenly needing to hold my breath to keep her scent from attacking my senses any further.
Thankfully, I heard Natalie swiftly make her way down the stairs. The pain she had been experiencing was becoming distinctly more pronounced the closer she came.
Finally, she turned the corner into the room where the three of us were still gathered, and an alluring smile lit up her face.
I rose from my seat, and stepped around the coffee table to her side, taking the opportunity to take a quick inventory of her physical condition.
"Hi, Jasper," she greeted me, turning to face me fully, and I smiled when I found nothing of immediate concern.
"Hello, Natalie," I answered back, my eyes greedily raking over her every inch as I attempted to slowly ease away some of her pain with my gift. "You look beautiful."
"Erm... thanks." she bit her lip shyly. "So do you; look nice, I mean."
A strong sense of adoration, happiness and desire swept through her, and I grinned, pleased with her response. Even though this was not meant to be a date, it was sure starting out like one.
Charlie cleared his throat, effectively breaking us out of our trance as Bella looked on with amusement. Natalie shot her a pointed glare, then quickly headed over to the coat rack to pull down a dark brown parka, and a cream-colored hat with a matching scarf. It was then that I spotted the Chiefs gun belt with his police-issued firearm hanging alongside the jackets. Now that I was more focused, having my mate so close by, I noticed that there was also a shot gun leaning casually up against the wall nearby. He must have done so on purpose as a silent warning to not hurt his daughter or there would be consequences. Of course, neither weapon would be able to do much physical damage, if any at all, but it would definitely cause one hell of a problem for my family and I if I were to survive such an encounter so easily.
"Here, let me help you with that," I gestured, taking her jacket and holding it open for her to slip her arms through.
"Thank you," she smiled sweetly, before going over at to her father and kissing his cheek, giving him a one armed hug. "I'll see you later, dad."
"Alright, kiddo," His cheeks turned red at her affection, and I could see where the twins got their ability to blush. "You kids have fun, and stay safe."
"Yes, sir," I responded, "Thank you."
Natalie had made her way over to her sister and was wrapped up in a tight hug. "Bye, Bells."
"Bye, Natty. Have fun - you deserve it," Bella murmured in a way that only Natalie was meant to hear, and I felt the infinite love and affection that the sisters held for each other.
Natalie turned and automatically returned to my side. I placed my hand against her lower back and guided her out the door toward my BMW.
"Wow, this is your car?" She asked in awe, her eyebrows shooting up towards her hairline in surprised approval.
"Yes ma'am," I chuckled in confirmation. If she liked this, she would definitely enjoy my Bugatti amongst our extended array of fast-moving vehicles.
She bit her lip in silent deliberation, "If you have a car like this, then why don't you drive it to school?" She questioned as I opened the passenger side door for her. She gave me a grateful smile, sliding inside, and I leaned against the open car door.
"Well, there are five of us and we're all going to the same place. So, rather than all of us driving separately, it's easier to just ride in with Edward or Emmett. They have the most room in their vehicles."
Not to mention, we needed to remain low key, and driving an expensive new sports car into the small school lot was not the best way to do that.
"I guess that makes sense," she shrugged.
I closed her door and ran around to the drivers side to get in, then started the engine and pulled off of her street on to the main road.
We pulled off onto a hidden dirt road at the base of one of the many mountains in the Olympic National Park, and drove a little ways up until it opened up into a small parking arena near some of the trails.
"I hope your not opposed to doing a little hiking?" I asked as we unbuckled our seat belts.
"Not at all," she replied before exiting the car. "I am still curious about where you are taking me though."
I smirked at her persistence, "I guess you're just going to have to wait to find out."
She made a face, and I laughed at her antics, making my way around to the trunk to grab us the thermos filled with the water Alice had suggested I bring. Even though I wouldn't have use for it, Natalie would still need to hydrate herself on the way to our destination.
"Will we make it back to the car before it gets too dark?" I felt her trepidation and her concern along with a little bit of fear as she eyed our limited provisions.
"No, but don't worry, I have everything taken care of. We will be completely safe, I promise."
I guided my mate to the far end of the lot where a dirt path led us onto the trail.
"After you," I gestured for her to go first as it was only wide enough for us to go through single file until it joined at the trail. It was there that we began to walk side by side, occasionally brushing our fingers and arms occasionally against the other's.
Our hike began in silence, the only sounds being heard were the ones made by nature along the rhythmic beating of Natalie's heart. It was extremely harmonious and euphoric. It also helped to be away from the public and the influence of their ever-changing emotions. Natalie and I were the only ones around for miles and I knew she was also enjoying the solitude. She wore a serene expression that matched her tranquil emotions, and I relished in the peace and joy she was feeling in the moment.
She must have felt me watching her as she peeked up at me, a blush filling in her cheeks where the cold hadn't yet marked her smooth porcelain skin with its icy touch.
"What?" She inquired with a small smile touching her lips.
I shook my head. "It's nothing," I replied, as we continued onward, our hands lightly swinging between us as I fought the urge to touch her. "I'm just really glad you agreed to come out with me tonight."
She grinned up at me, "I am too."
She looked away and I could feel the insecure deliberation begin to swirl into her emotions. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," I assured her.
"Why me?" she wondered, and then elaborated, "I know you and your family don't usually interact with anyone else at school. So why have you been going out of your way to be so nice to me?"
I let out a long breath through my nose, "I think you already know why."
She tried to hide her smile but failed miserably. Her emotions told me everything I needed to know. I knew she felt the same.
"So, Miss Natalie," I drawled, using my Texas accent, causing her to look up at me amused, "Tell me a bit about yourself. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?"
"Hmm…well, outside of reading just about anything I can get my hands on, I'm really into photography and I really enjoy working on cars."
"You're a mechanic?" I asked in surprise.
"Is that so hard to believe?" she asked uneasily.
"Not at all actually," I reassured her, "Rosalie is really into restoring old cars. You should see the garage she has at home."
Natalie's eyes lit up with excitement at this new piece of knowledge, "Seriously? Do you think she would show it to me sometime?"
"She would probably love the chance to show it all off. She is really proud of the work she does, and rightfully so."
"I look forward to it. It will be nice to be friends with another female mechanic." She responded cheerfully. "Sadly, I had to leave all my tools and jacks in Phoenix, so if I want to do any real work, I have to go down to the reservation to use a family friend's garage. He's in a wheelchair now, so only his son, Jacob, uses it."
She has friends on the Indian reservation?
I frowned to myself as I thought about the giant wolves Carlisle had told Alice and I about when we all decided to here. We'd had a meeting with the Quileute elders so Alice and I could added our names to the treaty that Carlisle had drafter with their ancestors. The pack itself had died out over time, but their legends about the cold ones lived on. So they knew the truth regarding who and what my family and I really were.
"Do you go to the reservation often?" I asked.
I couldn't help but notice her pause and wondered what that was about.
"I used to," she finally replied. "I haven't been there since the last summer I spent here with Charlie four years ago."
"Why not? Did something happen?" I wondered, then back-peddled, "You don't really have to answer that if you don't want to."
"No, it's okay," She sighed. "I used to go there all the time. My whole family did. Charlie even met my mom on First Beach. Anyway, my mom left my dad when Bella and I were nine months old, so every summer since we were one, she would send us to stay with Charlie for the month of July. His best friends all live on the reservation, and most of them have kids too, so he would always bring us there to play. When I was five, I met this boy couple years older then I was. His name was Paul. We became really good friends and we would play together all the time whenever I would visit. Well, that all stopped the summer I was fourteen. I came back that July to find that Paul had completely changed; he wasn't the boy I had become such good friends with anymore. He had started hanging around this older kid, Sam, from the rez, along with this other boy, Jared. This one boy Embry would tell me they were 'hall monitors on steroids.' Paul had bulked up really quickly cut his hair and got a tattoo and he was always so angry all the time. We got into a huge fight the day before I left to go back to Phoenix, and I slapped him. I haven't seen or heard from him since."
"Wow, I'm sorry that happened," I told her thoughtfully.
"Me too," she shrugged, "It actually why I stopped coming here. I used to love my visits to Forks until then, even with all the rain. I hadn't wanted to come back until now."
Ah, so it wasn't the town itself she disliked; it was the memories that the town inspired.
"Have you lived anywhere besides Forks and Phoenix?"
"Yeah. When my mom left with Bella and I, we moved in with our grandma Marie back in California where my mom grew up, so she could go back to school. We lived with her until she graduated and got a job as a kindergarten teacher in Riverside. Then we moved to Phoenix when I was six after our grandma passed away." She explained, then asked, "What about you? Jess said you and your family moved here from Alaska two years ago? What was it like to live there?"
It was endearing that she wanted to know more about me. No one outside of my family had ever taken the time to try before.
"Yes, we moved here from Denali. It's a very beautiful place in Alaska. We actually have cousins who still live up there. It can get pretty cold though. The warmest it gets is in the high fifty's in July on a nice day."
Not that the cold ever bothered me.
"Did you like to go hiking up there too?" she wondered.
"I did more than just hike," I answered, "My family and I do a lot of camping trips where we go hiking and hunting. We also occasionally rock climb and swim too."
"It must be so nice to have a big family you can do that stuff with." She commented wistfully.
"It is," I smiled to myself. Sure, it wasn't the kind of camping or hunting she was thinking of though.
"What about you?" I asked trying to change the direction of the conversation, "You seem to be very comfortable in the outdoors."
"I am - sort of. I mean, I've gone on a few camping trips. The rest just comes from having the chief of police as your father. He taught us all this survival stuff. Bella used to hate it, but she never really complained, and never to his face."
"Why didn't she like it?"
She smiled, "Bella's not really into sports especially outdoor sports. The last time we went camping, she tripped over a root and twisted her ankle. The time before that, she slipped into a huge pile of mud. Her and nature just don't get along, but she tries to tough it out anyway, for me and for Charlie." she explained.
"You and your sister seem like you're really close," I observed.
She nodded, "We are. She's more than just my twin, she's my very best friend, almost like an extension of myself. I'd do anything for her, just like I know she would do anything for me."
I was happy to hear that she had family that she cared for as much as she did, but, at the same time, I was0 selfishly worried about what it would mean for our future. No matter what happens, I know she will refuse to ever cut her sister out of her life, they are too important to each other. So, when the time inevitably comes, we would have to find a way to make it work so she could somehow keep Bella in her life.
"What was it like for you two growing up? It sounds like you did a lot of traveling."
It was fascinating to me, learning these things about her. I was anxious to catch up on all the parts of her life that I'd missed out on. I couldn't wait to discover more.
(Natalie's POV)
"Things were good," I shrugged. "Renee's life has always been pretty chaotic, but still she did a lot of the things she had with Bella and I in mind, even though she was never really the parent in our relationship. Bella and I had learned to take care of each other - and her - pretty quickly."
I thought back over the years we spent living with Renee and summarized to him how Bella and I had counted on each other to remember important dates, to do the grocery shopping or book keeping since we were ten. Luckily, our mother taught at our school, and since she had become good friends with a lot of the other teachers, we never had to worry about permission slips or remind her about parent/teacher conferences.
"We had plenty of good times, though," I smiled to myself nostalgically. "Even though she is a bit harebrained and more like a teenager, herself, we know our mother loves us like crazy. The three of us went on more trips than I can count. She signed us up for ballet and we took mother/daughter art classes…she did a lot for us. Plus, she has Phil now to help her with everything."
"Is it very different living with your father?" he asked.
"Yeah," I responded, "Bella and I wanted to do something to help out, so we decided to take over kitchen duty since Charlie can't cook to save his own life. He was happy to go to the diner everyday. He also doesn't hover; he gives us our space." I stepped around a large puddle, then asked, "So, what's it like living with your Uncle Carlisle and Aunt Esme? What are they like?"
A dimple appeared in as he smile softly at my question. "I am really very grateful to them. They took me in at a crucial time in my life and have been amazing. They are always very supportive and have tremendous faith in me – even when I think I don't deserve it."
"They sound really wonderful," I complimented.
"They are," he agreed. "Esme has the patience of a saint and loves to fuss over all of us. Carlisle is just as kind, and always finds a way to see the best in everyone."
"What's it like to have such a large family?" I wondered. "It must be nice having so many siblings so close to your own age."
He lifted a stray branch, and I ducked under his arm while he followed after.
I craned my neck to look back the way we came, one part confused and two parts curious as to where he was taking me and how we were going to find our way back without a map, compass or trail markers – in the dark, no less.
He must have known what I was thinking, as he answered my unspoken inquiry.
"Where we're going isn't a place the park officials advertise to the public. I'm not even sure that they know it exists – Olympic National Park is gigantic, and most hikers don't explore this area very often. Don't worry, Darlin', we'll be fine."
I frowned, "How do you keep on doing that?"
His lips pulled down at the corners, and he looked down at his feet as he spoke, "Doing what?"
I knew he was aware of what I'd meant, but I answered him anyway, "You always seem to know exactly what I'm thinking and feeling. What are you, some sort of mind reader?"
Amusement suddenly colored his handsome features. "No, I am not a mind reader."
I couldn't figure out what part of my question was funny - aside from it's utter absurdity - but I let it go for now. He had opened up a lot with me today and I didn't want to push him too hard.
Jasper and I hiked up the mountain for another half an hour until the trees started to finally thin out around us. I could hear the sound of moving water in the distance as a soft breeze ghosted through the forest. The world around us was bathed in orange, pinks and purples as the setting sun hid behind it's ever-constant cover of clouds.
"This way," he gave my hand a tug, "We're almost there."
I followed behind him until we reached the tree line where we stopped and came across the one most beautiful views I've ever seen in my life.
A/N: So, as anyone who read the original story, you will see that I changed q lot in this chapter in comparison to the original story, so I am dying to hear what you all think! Jasper and Natalie are getting to know each other better, while being a little flirty Also, now we know a little more about what happened between Natalie and Paul, as well as some of her history growing up and why she disliked being in Forks. It's not that she hates the small town, the cold or rain like Bella, but because of how she lost her childhood best friend in Forks.
The second part of their date will come soon! So stay tuned!
If you have any questions or comments, post them in my reviews and I will answer them here in the next Author's Note at the bottom of the chapter…
time-twilight : Great chapter, maybe you could of done this story were Natalie doesn't hate Forks like Bella does, maybe you could of done it were Natalie loves Phoenix and Forks. If Jasper and Natalie are mates does that mean when the Cullen's leave in New Moon Jasper won't leave Natalie and the way Edward is acting does that mean Bella isn't his mate.
Bella'Xo: I hope this chapter explained things a little bit better. Natalie never hated the town itself, but because of the memories of her childhood best friend, Paul, and what happened during her last trip when she was 14. There is more to the story about Paul that we will learn about in later chapters. As for Edward and Bella, I don't want to give away any spoilers, but know that their situation in regards to them being mates or not will be explained in later chapters. Right now, all we know for sure is that Bella is Edwards blood singer.
3 chellekathrynnn : I'm interested to see how her headaches come into play. I'm also hoping you don't jump into the Jasper OC romance too soon as it can be unrealistic but I trust you. Just don't make it the weird toxic possessiveness that was Edward and Bella in the books. No manic pixie dream boys/girls please!
Bella'Xo: lol, I promise it will be realistic. I don't plan to have them jump right into bed spouting 'I love you's'. That kind of stuff drives me crazy too lol. They obviously know something is between them but Jasper doesn't want to rush her or scare her away and Natalie is receptive but cautious. She knows something is up but doesn't know what. No toxic possessiveness, only when it calls for it. Jasper is very different from Edward, due to his introduction into vampirism. Also, Alice won't be too crazy lol. I promise.
time-twilight : Great chapter. Maybe because of Jasper's powers to control emotions, you could do it were Charlie likes Jasper and Charlie doesn't give him a hard time like he does with Edward.
Are you going to pair Alice with someone, maybe you could have one of the wolves imprint on her and that's why Alice can't see her mate in a vision.
Maybe you could have Natalie find out she has a tumor not long after Tyler car nearly hit her and Bella, Carlisle could do a scan because it looks like she's having headaches when she's at the hospital. Please update soon
Bella'Xo: Yes, Alice's mate will make an appearance. I am not sure which book I will have him appear in yet, but I already have an idea I am playing around with. – its not set in stone. Natalie will find out what's wrong with her at some point during the book. It plays a big part of why some things happen during the story.