So sorry this took soooo long! I was really busy with school and such. Oh, and in case you didn't read the preview post (the note) you should go back and read it. It's important
~.~.~.~.~
This whole 'no car' thing wasn't working out for Anouk. She was getting to school too early. Waking up too early. Especially after a night of waking up after every dream she had about Jasper. She was angry with him, but she couldn't let herself really be angry with him. She liked him too much. And how sad, she realized, was it to like a boy that didn't want you the same way you wanted him?
She sat now in her Calculus class, staring blankly ahead. She felt like she hadn't slept at all. One by one, each student came into the room, taking their seats for the beginning of class. The weekend had gone by in a blur, much like the previous week had; she was too busy thinking about a certain pale blonde to notice what was happening in the world around her. If only he thought about her like that . . .
He walked into the room, immediately catching Anouk's attention. She wanted to groan. He was better looking than in her dreams. He never smiled, but he looked like he could be a model, anyway. She watched him as he smoothly walked between the rows of desks to get to his seat. He looked at her and she noticed him gulp as he looked at her tensely. Her eyes never left him as he sat down in his desk. Her lips parted slightly as he quickly licked his lips and ran a hand through his hair.
Though no windows were open, a light breeze passed him, and though there was no sun, he was glowing lustrously. He turned towards her, his jaw clenching and unclenching slightly. He smiled slightly at her and Anouk bit her lip. In slow motion, he reached over to her and gently ran the tips of his fingers down her cheek. "Anouk," he said, his voice like butter. Anouk's eyes widened. "I can't stop thinking about you." They both stood up quickly from their seats and he pulled her over to him. She crashed into him, making him fall against his desk as their lips connected. She pulled him closer to her by the front of his shirt, and he wrapped his arms around her and switched their positions. Anouk was now pressed against the desk as they kissed ferociously. Anouk ripped his shirt open, not bothering with the buttons, and ran her hands over his toned chest as Jasper lifted her to sit on the desk. Smiling as they kissed, she wrapped her legs around his waist and he picked her up, carrying her to the table pushed against the back wall. He kissed her neck as he lowered them onto the table. They pulled away and looked at each other, smiling. Anouk ran her hand through his hair while he cupped her face in his hands and she laughed he flipped them over so that Anouk was now lying on top of him. They grinned as they rested their foreheads together, breathing heavily. He pulled her face towards him again and kissed her feverishly.
"Ms. van der Clare?" came Mr. Dosee's voice. Anouk shook her head and blinked a few times. She was still sitting in her seat, Jasper still in his, his mouth twitching into a smirk. She looked quickly to her teacher, closing her mouth. "The answer, please?"
"Uh," Anouk said, her throat dry. She licked her lips quickly. "What was the question?"
Mr. Dosee and sighed and shook his head at her. "Mr. Cullen?"
"6 root 2," he said quietly. Mr. Dosee smiled and nodded once, turning to write the answer on the board. Anouk and Jasper looked at each other, before Anouk blushed and looked away.
"Very good," Mr. Dosee said, sending Jasper a small smile. "It's nice to know some of you actually pay attention."
Jasper watched Anouk as she blushed, all but ignoring his teacher. He had been wondering why she was staring at him with a glazed over expression, when he felt a strong sense of longing and lust coming radiating from her. Ah. Daydreams. That was something Jasper could relate to considering they were the only kind of dreams he could have. He mentally cursed himself for being pleased that she was daydreaming of him as he had of her lately.
But of course their fantasies were nothing alike. Well, maybe they would start the same; touching each other without hesitation, brushing his lips across her skin as they held one another. But the daydreams were immediately different as soon as he imagined leaning in as if to kiss her neck as he smirked at her smiling face, enjoying the fact that she had no idea what was coming next. Sinking his teeth into her soft and delicate skin, he would relish the taste of the sweetness of the blood running down his throat as she uselessly struggled in his arms until she eventually lay limply, relaxed as if she were sleeping. Finally the burning in his throat would subside, and his hunger would be satisfied completely for the first time in years.
The bell rang, bringing Jasper out of his thoughts, and he watched as Anouk quickly gathered her things and walk swiftly out of the room to her next class.
As Jasper walked out of the classroom himself and started in the direction of his second class, French Literature, someone bounced beside him happily. Without looking, he knew she was grinning at him as the glee radiated from her. "Hi, Alice," Jasper sighed.
Alice pouted. "You don't like me anymore," she said, though he knew that she knew that that wasn't true.
"Of course I do, Alice," he reassured. "You're my best friend."
Alice's face brightened as they walked down the hall. "So, guess what?" she said excitedly.
"What?" he said with little enthusiasm.
"There's going to be a thunderstorm later today!"
"That's great, Alice," Jasper said with little interest. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy playing baseball with his family, he just other things on his mind . . .
His tone didn't bother Alice at all. "I think a good game of baseball is just what you need! We haven't had a chance to play in a long time." She reached into her bag. "And look what I got for you!"
Jasper's lips pulled upwards slightly as Alice pulled out a white baseball cap with dark blue seams, the logo for the Seattle Mariners sewn on the front. He knew Alice wasn't as enthusiastic about baseball as she was about the fashion; in fact, dressing up in baseball attire was her favorite part of the game and she made each member of the family do it. She placed the hat sloppily on his head, and he immediately took it off to examine it, smiling. "Thank you, Alice," he said.
"You have to promise me to wear it, okay?" Jasper nodded as Alice reached into her bag again. "Look! I got one for me, too!" She pulled out a two-toned hat; it was dark blue with a red bill, a red "A" stitched to the font.
"I didn't know you liked the Angels," Jasper said, pointing to the "A".
"Who are the Angels?" she asked him. "I got it because it had an 'A' for Alice!" she giggled. Jasper chuckled once. The bell rang and Alice snatched both hats and stuffed them back into her bag. "I'd better get to class. Bye, Jazz!" She smiled at him before walking quickly down another hallway to her next class.
As he went to his next class, Jasper's thoughts drifted back to Anouk. He was more drawn to her with each passing minute, and he didn't know how long he would be able to survive it. He was looking forward to lunch just so he could see her again. Calculus was quickly becoming his favorite class of the day because he was so close that he could feel the heat emanating from her.
Jasper didn't like using his ability of manipulating emotions. He felt it took away the reality of a situation, even though it did come in handy when there was a disagreement between his family members. With Anouk though . . . he wanted to make all the anger, and sadness, and aggravation disappear for her. Replace all the negative emotions with cheerful ones.
The thought of making her love him crossed his mind. Once. Just once. And he quickly dismissed it.
But he wanted to hold her hand, and kiss her cheek, or if those weren't possible (which they weren't), at least be there to make her as happy as could be. If he were the one who made her happy, he himself would be ecstatic.
Before he knew it, he was sitting at the lunch table next to Alice, watching with an emotionless face as Mike Newton made his over to Anouk, and took a seat next to her. Though he was oh so very calm, cool, and collected on the outside, inside he was seething. Alice chattered happily to him and Emmett, though she probably knew he wasn't listening. He gritted his teeth as he watched the scene across the room.
Mike was trying to make casual conversation with Anouk, but it was obvious that he had ulterior motives. Jessica Stanley sat on the other end of the table, staring at the two, pouting.
"So, Anouk," he said. Jasper glared. He knew what was coming. "My parents are going out of town for the weekend, and I get to use their car while they're gone."
"That's cool," Anouk said sweetly, though her eyes were sympathetic. She knew what was coming, too.
"Yeah! It is!" Mike exclaimed. "So, yeah, I was wondering if you wanted to, you know, catch a movie, have dinner . . . like a date?"
Jasper held back a growl. How dare he ask out his Anouk on a date?! Like she would say yes. Jasper felt bad for the pathetic boy; it was obvious that Mike and Anouk had no connection whatsoever. Anouk was better off with any other guy than Mike Newton. Anouk would be better with me, he thought bitterly.
Anouk sighed. "Mike, it's not that you're not great, but we've been through this, haven't we?"
"Yeah, but I thought maybe you changed your mind," he asked hopefully.
"Mike . . ." Anouk said, kindly. "You know the answer."
"You never know, Anouk, we could be made for each other," Mike said, semi-jokingly. Jasper scoffed internally.
Anouk laughed. "I think there is someone else out there for both of us, Mike," she said seriously. Jasper didn't miss how she glanced over at his table when she said that, which made instantly made him forget his bitter thoughts toward Newton, and instead focus on her light eyes, framed perfectly by thick, long eyelashes—
"Jazz, whose team are you going to be on?" Alice asked him exuberantly.
"Whose team am I usually on?" Jasper asked back, not bothering to take his eyes off Anouk.
"You're usually with Rosalie, and Emmett, but Emmett made a bet with Rosalie that his team could beat hers . . . so Emmett switched teams," Alice explained as she stared at Jasper staring at Anouk. He felt her worry so he ore his eyes away from Anouk and looked at Alice.
"I'll be with Rosalie and Carlisle, then," he said, unsmiling, staring at Alice meaningfully, as if to assure her that he wasn't thinking about sinking his teeth into Anouk's neck. Alice nodded and went back to her conversation with Emmett.
The rest of lunch passed in such a manner, and he had trouble keeping his eyes away from her. Whenever he did look away, the picture of her was ingrained in his mind. Eventually the bell rang. For the rest of the day, Jasper paid no attention to class; his mind was stuck on thoughts of Anouk. Half of him was happy about it—thinking about her made him fell whole, which was odd because he never knew until recently that he had been missing something.
The final bell rang and Jasper was in agony. Not from thirst this time. From longing. Longing for something he couldn't have. But he couldn't do this to himself anymore. It was completely masochistic.
So when he saw her walking through the parking lot, he knew what he wanted to do. He bit his lip as he watched her walk away, holding her folder and new book to her chest. He looked around at Alice, who was smiling knowingly at him. Jasper tapped the hood of the Volvo, contemplating if he should go after her. Alice grinned. "I'll see you guys later," he said, and the others looked at him, bewildered, as he quickly walked in the direction of Anouk.
"Shh, let him go," he heard Alice tell the others. He paid them no mind, though. He ran quickly in the direction she had gone. She had walked quickly, he realized. When he finally caught up to her, she had already turned the corner, down a quiet street. She was taking a different route home.
He ran the last few steps to fall in step with her. She was reading. When she felt him walk beside her, he saw how her eyes stopped reading, and she licked her lips, but she didn't look up at him.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, and she barely looked up from her book to see where she was walking. But she wasn't really reading. She couldn't focus.
"What are you reading?" he asked her finally.
"Edgar Allen Poe," she said shortly.
"A little dark for you, don't you think?"
"Dark for me?" she questioned, letting out an angry chuckle. "Dark for me?"
"That's what I said, yes."
" 'Dark for me', he says. Oh that's really something," she said, her cheeks flushing. She was getting angry, andsomewhat hysterical. It was slightly amusing, seeing how work up she was, and Jasper held back a smile. "And suddenly you know me so well that you know what's 'dark' for me? You're ridiculous."
Jasper smirked and cast her a sideways glance. "I just never pictured you as a dark person. That's all."
She sighed. "What are you doing here?" she asked him tiredly.
"I . . ." he began. What was he doing? "I don't know . . ."
"I mean, ugh!" she said, confusion on her face. "I don't get you! At. All. First you act like there is something wrong with me when I met you, then you walk me home and be all nice, and then you stare at me constantly and then you tell me you like me and then the next day you say we shouldn't be friends. You ignore me all week and now here you are, walking with me again! Why?"
Jasper closed his eyes for a moment, and breathed in. He opened his eyes and she was looking at him expectantly. "I—hmm . . ." he faltered, wondering what to say. "This week has been agonizing."
She narrowed her eyes in confusion. "I don't see how that answers my questi—"
He cut her off. "I cannot sit here, ignoring these feeling any longer," he said. They stopped walking.
They were at the bottom of her driveway now, and Anouk's expression immediately softened, though there was still confusion evident in her features. "Then don't."
Jasper sighed. "If only it were that easy," he said, running a hand through his hair.
"Be with me," she said as if she were spelling something out. She looked at him and smiled like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I don't think you understand," Jasper said, chuckling darkly, frustrated that she wouldn't get it through her head that they could be together.
"I don't," she confirmed as she frowned at him.
Jasper sighed. "I can't be with you. Because of what I am," he tried to explain, though he wasn't sure how he would be able to do that without giving away his secret.
She folded her arms across her chest and shifted her weight to one side, looking annoyed. "And what is that? A Cullen?" she asked slowly and dramatically as she raised an eyebrow.
Pursing his lips into a dark smile, Jasper sighed again. How could he do this without saying too much? "That's part of it."
"What's the rest of it?" Anouk pressed.
"How I long to tell you," he said dramatically, teasing a little.
Anouk threw her hands up and let out an irritated noise. "Why are you being so difficult?!" she questioned, putting her hands on he hips.
"I'm not trying to be," he said truthfully.
"Then stop!" She smirked at him. "Give me one good reason why you can't be with me."
Jasper thought for a moment. "I don't want to," he finally said. Anouk looked satisfied with the answer, though her emotions said otherwise. She was confused.
"You don't want to give me a reason or you don't want to be with me?" she asked, breaking out of her understanding charade.
"Either. Or both."
"Could you give me a straight answer, please?" she pleaded, getting slightly desperate for some answers.
"I don't think so." He said it playfully, but it was, again, the truth. He couldn't give her a straight answer without putting his family at risk. Or worse—make her afraid of him.
"You are being very annoying!" she said as she glared at him.
"All for the better." He let it out come out in a sad sigh. All for the better, he repeated to himself.
"Do you want to be with me?" Anouk asked him forwardly, looking at him straight in the eyes.
"No," was his quick, and automatic reply. Anouk frowned as she continued to look straight into his eyes.
"Do you mean that?" she questioned, obviously noticing his insincerity.
"Not in the least," Jasper breathed, quite positively. It was no question that he had feelings for her now.
"Ugh!" She threw her hands in the air and looked around them as she ran a hand angrily through her silky hair.
"Oh, how I wish you would understand," Jasper said, again in a slightly dramatic tone.
"Oh, how I wish you would give me something to help me understand," she replied, mocking his tone. He'd noticed that as they continued this conversation, Anouk's cheeks had become pinker and pinker the more frustrated she had gotten with him. He couldn't stop looking at them. The blood made them so pink and delicious-looking. But he mustn't think like that. She looked at him, confused. Probably wondering why he was staring at her . . .
"You're cheeks are the most delightful shade of pink when you're flustered." She rolled her eyes, but looked away, embarrassed, making her cheeks even pinker. Jasper swallowed to try to ease the steadily increasing burn in his throat.
"You're just teasing me now," she accused, glaring at the trees, still not looking at him.
"I wouldn't dream of teasing you," Jasper joked, trying to ignore his burning throat.
"Can you please be serious?" she said, somewhat desperately, looking at him with her arms crossed.
"No," he said tensely before he swallowed stiffly.
"Why not?!"
"It's my defense mechanism, I guess." Whatever keeps me from attacking you, I suppose.
"I don't think I can talk to you anymore," she said shaking her head at him and turning halfway in the direction of her house. She didn't stop looking at him.
"Again, all for the better."
"I don't think I could not talk to you," she said quietly. She blushed a little, and slowly blinked her eyes.
"And I you." Happiness. She was happy. Doesn't she realize the danger? Oh, if only she knew what I was capable of.
"You have me hooked," she said chuckling, though Jasper knew she was being serious.
That confused Jasper though. For her to say that now made no sense. "Hooked? On what?"
"On you." Again, a slight blush. Jasper's eyes softened as she tried to smile at him; he felt how hurt she was at the fact that he wasn't showing that he felt the same way.
"Oh dear, that is terrible news, indeed," he said lightly, sending her a small smile.
"Are you teasing me again?" she accused, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I wish I were."
"Why do you hate me so much?" she groaned.
"We already established that I don't hate you. Quite the opposite."
"Then why are you doing this to me?"
"Ah, but you are the one tormenting and tempting me."
This confused her. Tormenting him? Tempting him? How? Either way, she figured that it served him right. He ought to feel as awful as she does. "Good."
"Very bad," he said seriously, and frowning.
"I hate you, Jasper." She was very frustrated now. He said he liked her, yet he won't be with her! Why is he playing this horrible game with her?!
"I wish I could say the same about you," he said softly, looking into the trees, slightly ashamed.
"Goodbye, Jasper," she said stiffly.
"Goodbye," he said, slightly amused.
"I'm leaving now."
"That is what the term 'goodbye' implies," he said, raising an eyebrow.
Anouk took one step towards the house, though she was still facing him. If she left him right now, she might not have another chance to talk to him, especially on this subject. She couldn't let him go that easily. Especially with his mood swings of liking her, then not wanting to be with her.
"Aren't you leaving?" he asked, still amused.
"I can't. I can't leave you."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to lose you."
"Don't be ridiculous. You couldn't lose me if you tried. Besides, I have you hooked, remember?"
"You're teasing me now," she said blushing. Had she really said that? Now she heard how ridiculous it sounded and mentally scolded herself.
"I am." He stared at her fixatedly, almost as if examining a rare specimen of some sort. With intrigue and awe. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable.
"What are you staring at?" she finally asked.
"Your cheeks are that perfect shade of pink again. But you aren't flustered anymore, are you?" he asked. He knew she wasn't.
"No, I'm embarrassed." She told him, like it was so obvious. It was really.
"I know."
"You seem pleased," she said stiffly again.
"Very," Jasper said shortly, cocking an eyebrow. He felt the annoyance building up in her.
"Why?! Do you like embarrassing me?" she asked angrily.
"Yes, I do." He didn't smile.
"Why?" she whined.
"Anything to see that flush on your face." He said, staring longingly at the pinkness that was the blood rushing to her face
"You're embarrassing me again," she whined and held her cheeks in her hands, not wanting him to stare at them.
Jasper regretted saying those words. She had blushed more deeply than she had before, and, just his luck, right as the wind picked up. Jasper stiffened. Before he could stop breathing, the her scent surrounded him, and Jasper closed his eyes as he savored the smell. Without opening his eyes he took a step towards her.
So sweet . . . he thought. I could have her drained and disposed of an hour before her mother notices. It would be so easy. I would simply reach for her—of course she would come; I know how she feels about me. She would think I was returning her affection . . . I would lean down to kiss her and she would let me . . . of course she would. And then I would . . . Jasper clenched his jaw as he realized what was happening. She watched him curiously. One bite . . . surely I will able to stop before I killed her . . . Just one taste . . . he took another slow step forward, but stopped abruptly. "I must go," he said hurriedly, taking a few steps back. " I shall see you tomorrow." He turned his back towards he, desperate to get away before he did something he regretted.
"You're leaving?" she asked, disappointed, sounding so innocent that Jasper had to turn around to face her.
"Yes, and so are you. You're mother is worried sick." Anouk rolled her eyes. Her mom was always worried about her. But he shouldn't know that. He'd never met her mother . . . had he?
"How do you know?" she questioned suspiciously.
"I can't tell you," he said quietly.
"Don't start," she warned.
"Really, you should be going," he said as the breeze picked up. He visible stiffened.
"Don't tell me what I should and shouldn't do," Anouk said angrily, crossing her arms. Her expression softened a moment later, and she bit her lip. There was a clap of thunder in the distance, but Anouk paid it no mind. Goodbye, Jasper."
"Goodbye," he said as they looked at each other. He straightened up even more than he already was and turned, walking away. Anouk watched him walk away as there was another roar of thunder, closer this time. Anouk sighed as it began to drizzle. She turned as she watched the sky, and walked to her house.
When she shut the door behind her, her mom came rushing to her. "Where were you?" she asked quickly.
"Walking home from school," Anouk sighed.
"I tried calling you."
"My phone's on silent," she answered shortly. Her mother looked even more worried at Anouk's response; she could tell something was wrong. "I'm tired. I think I am going to take a nap," Anouk said.
"Okay, well I'm going to the grocery store. We need more milk."
Anouk nodded, walking quickly up the stairs and into her bedroom. She threw her stuff on the bed, and took out her phone, turning up the volume. She threw that on the bed as well, with a little too much force; it tumbled off the bed and onto the floor. She didn't bother to pick it up. She sat on the window seat and stared out into the sky.
To be rejected once was one thing; but twice? That was ridiculous. He was ridiculous.
Why would he lead her on like that . . .? Tell her that he had feelings for her, but rejecting her in the same conversation? It didn't make any sense.
Well, she thought, trying to stay positive, his loss. It's not like I can't get any other guy.
She half wished she had accepted Mike's offer earlier. Just to go out with someone, maybe making Jasper feel bad in the process would be very satisfying.
Very, very satisfying. She walked over to where her phone was and picked it up off the floor, not sure whom to call, when it rang loudly. Anouk started a little. Quelle coincidence. . . she thought amusedly as she looked at the caller i.d. Private . . .
"Hello?" she asked as she flipped open her phone.
"Hey, Anouk? It's Jared."
Anouk smirked to herself. Looks like she would be getting out this weekend. "Hey, Jared!" she said happily. "What's up?"
"Nothing really. You left your jacket last week at the bonfire . . ." he said, trailing off."So . . . yeah. I have it."
"Okay, well you can give it to Georgina to give to me, if you want . . .?"
"Well, actually I was wondering if you wanted to hang out this weekend," he said confidently. "I could give it to you then."
Anouk smirked again. Too easy. "That would be . . . perfect."
"Okay! Cool. Okay, so I'll call you later this week for the details?"
"Sounds good," she said happily. They said their goodbyes and Anouk snapped her phone shut, and set it on the window seat, where she sat again, this time looking out to the trees, completely content.
Sorry Jasper, she pictured herself saying to an imaginary Jasper. You're too late. I already have plans this weekend. With Jared. Maybe next time. Maybe not.
Her smile faltered a little when she realized that now she was leading Jared on. . . It's not that she didn't like him . . . she just didn't like him like that.
Before she could think any more about it, something caught her eye. A little girl was standing on the edge of the trees of the forest that enclosed her back yard. She was wearing a light pink dress, grinning up at Anouk as she twirled her golden curls with her fingers.
Anouk looked at her at confusion. What was she doing there? Anouk's eyes widened as she saw the girl wave to her and run into the trees. "Wait!" she shouted, though she knew the girl couldn't hear her. She quickly ran from the window and down the stairs, shoving her shoes on, ignoring the thunder in the distance.
The forest was dangerous! Didn't the girl know that? Where were her parents? Anouk had to find her before something happened to her! Anouk ran out the back door and into the forest where the girl had gone in.
Anouk ran cautiously through the trees, wondering where she could have gone. "Hello?" she said, as she stopped running. She heard a giggle, and the little girl peaked around the trunk of a tree.
"Little girl, you have to come with me," Anouk said, gently. "It's not safe in the forest."
"Yes it is!" the little girl giggled before turning and running in the other direction. Anouk cursed and followed after her. It was easier for the girl weave through the plants and trees, and Anouk struggled to keep up, slipping on the moss and roots.
"Wait!" Anouk called after her, but her voice was no match for the resonating thunder. She followed her to an area with little plants, a canopy of trees above her. The little girl stood in the middle of the clearing, smiling sweetly at Anouk. Anouk walked forward to the girl.
"It's really not safe," Anouk said, catching her breath.
"It is for me," the girl said, grinning. "Not for you."
"What –" Anouk was cut off as someone grabbed her shoulder, turning her quickly around. Before Anouk could make sense of anything, a cold hand was shoved to her neck, and gripping it tightly, lifted her easily of the ground.
The little girl squealed and Anouk saw her run away deeper into the woods as she gasped for breath, kicking her legs, trying to pry herself free from the stranger's grasp.
-.-.-.-.-.-
"You're out!" Emmett called to Rosalie, and Rosalie glared at him.
"I am not! I made it to the base three seconds before you even threw the ball to Esme!" Rosalie argued.
"Esme, you caught it first, didn't you? Didn't you?" Emmett exclaimed.
Emse looked back and forth between both of her children, both of them looking at her expectantly. "Well . . ." she said hesitantly.
"Can we please switch?" Alice whined. "I'm tired of pitching! I want to hit!"
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Fine," she said angrily as she glared at Emmett.
"Oh, come on. Don't get mad, babe." Emmett laughed. "Get it? Babe? Like Babe Ruth. . . the baseball player . . . you know—"
"Everyone knows who Babe Ruth is," Rosalie snapped as she passed Emmett. "And that wasn't funny."
"You are just mad because I got you out."
"You didn't!" Rosalie said, stubbornly.
"Alright, enough," Carlisle said fatherly as he took his place to pitch. Jasper had already taken his place in outfield, and the others were ready to bat.
Alice took the bat, and gracefully swung it a few times, warming up. She smiled and nodded to Carlisle when she was ready for the pitch. Carlisle wound up and threw a perfect curveball towards Alice. She ignored it. Esme caught it (no glove of course) and threw it back to Carlisle.
Carlisle pitched again. This time a fastball. Alice gracefully swung the bat and a loud crash sounded when the ball made contact with it. Alice dropped the bat and began to dance around the bases.
Jasper watched the ball as it came down to him. He caught it and threw it quickly to Esme, who was still catching, with ease. Alice was out. She pouted and playfully glared at Jasper, who shrugged and adjusted his new baseball cap. Alice grinned and took her place behind Esme.
Edward was next up, and Carlisle pitched; Edward hit it and it flew in the direction of Rosalie. She ran after it, into the trees, and within a second, the ball came flying out of the trees and into Esme's hands. Edward—who has always been the fastest—was already at home base.
"Yeah, Edward!" Emmett said, giving him a high five and picking up the bat where Edward had discarded it. Thunder sounded before Carlisle threw the ball, and a boom louder than the thunder echoed through the clearing when Emmett hit the ball. It went soaring passed Jasper, into the forest, and Jasper raced after it.
He followed it deeper and deeper into the woods, following the holes in the trees the baseball had created. He saw the baseball on the ground and quickly picked it up, but as he was about to throw it, he stopped.
A sweet scent filled his lungs and Jasper slowly walked in the direction it came from. He had no doubt as to whose it was; but why was Anouk in the forest?
He ran faster than his already superhuman speed as he heard a light laugh followed by the whimper of who Jasper assumed to be Anouk. He entered a clearing, and saw a beautiful pale woman of about 30 pinning Anouk to a tree by her throat. The woman leaned towards Anouk, inhaling her scent, and she laughed again. Anouk shut her eyes tightly.
Jasper growled and lunged toward the woman, and flung her off Anouk, who slid to the bottom of the tree, her eyes wide and breathing heavily. Jasper took a step towards Anouk, but he stopped when he noticed the woman coming towards him from across the clearing. Jasper quickly picked up a large, bigger than him, and threw it at the dark haired woman. The woman hit the log, breaking it before it did her any damage.
They lunged toward each other, colliding with a loud crash. Jasper, not know what else to do, bit her shoulder, hard, making her yell out in pain and release Jasper. She brought her hand to her shoulder, and laughed darkly before taking off into the trees.
Jasper was about to go after her, when he heard a shaky breath. He remembered Anouk and was instantly at her side.
"Are you okay?" he asked quickly. She looked at him with wide eyes, he mouth hanging slightly.
"What – I—you—how," she stuttered shakily before another there was another clap of thunder. Jasper looked at her worriedly. She closed her eyes and took a calming breath at the same time that Jasper sent her a wave of calmness. She was still slightly in shock. She quickly stood up and stared at Jasper, eyes still a little wide, cheeks flush. "What are you?!"
Jasper took a step away from her. Of course she saw the whole thing . . . she saw him use all his strength, she saw how fast he ran there, and she saw him bite that woman! What does he do? Deny it? Worth a shot.
"I'm nothing, Anouk, are you feeling okay?" he said, pretending like she was speaking nonsense.
"You're not nothing!" she yelled. "I saw! You picked up a tree like it was a feather! One second you were standing across the clearing and the next second you were right beside me! How? What are you!"
Jasper sighed. "Anouk, you are obviously very upset right now. I'm going to take you home, okay?"
"No! Not until you tell me what you are!"
"I'm nothing, Anouk."
"Don't lie!" she said, hysterical. "Earlier . . . earlier you said you couldn't be with me because of what you were. You can't say you're nothing now! I saw you."
"Anouk, something very traumatizing just happened to you. You're a little disoriented. I didn't pick up a tree, or magically appear by your side," he said slowly.
"I know what I saw!"
"Anouk!" Jasper shouted. "I did not pick up a tree!"
She glared at him. "You're lying to me. I know you are. I. Know. What. I. Saw."
"No. You. Don't." Jasper grabbed her arm tightly and pulled her through the trees. "I'm taking you home now. Or would you rather go the hospital? She didn't hurt you, did she?"
"I'm fine," Anouk breathed, not taking her eyes off Jasper as he pulled her towards her home.
"What were you doing in here, anyway?" he said angrily.
"what were you?" she countered.
"Anouk," Jasper said, scolding her for her suspicious tone.
"What?! I know something's going on, Jasper. You told me you were something earlier. What are you?"
"Nothing."
"Then how did you throw a tree across the clearing?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"You must have hit your head or something, because I didn't throw a tree. That's not possible." Jasper didn't look at her. Under his grip, he could feel the blood pulsing through her arm. He tried to ignore it.
"I saw it, though!" she exclaimed. "You can't deny it!"
jasper sighed as the entered her back yard. He led her to the back door and opened it for her. She looked at him for a second before stepping inside. As Jasper was about to close the door, she stopped him.
"I'm going to figure it out, with our without your help," she assured him, looking him in the eyes. She furrowed her brow as she looked at him, distracted. "Did you get contacts?"
"No," Jasper said quickly. He was sure his eyes were black right now, because he had been so close to her blood, but he couldn't give her anymore clues. "Get some rest, eat something. If you feel an anxiety or are hurt in anyway, go straight to the hospital, and ask for Carlisle."
Anouk nodded and he shut the door. He walked around her house to the front, careful not to look suspicious by going back into the woods. As soon as he was out of sight of the house, he ran with vampire speed back to the makeshift baseball field.
Everyone rushed over to him, most looking annoyed, though Carlisle and Esme looked worried.
"What took you so long?" Edward asked angrily.
"And where's the ball? I didn't hit it that hard," Emmett said, slightly amused.
Jasper ignored them, his eyes locked on Carlisle's.
"We have a problem."
~.~.~.~.~
So there you have it. Thank you so much for those who review and who add this to their favorite and alert list! It means a lot!
I want a lot of reviews for this chapter, please! I need to know what you guys think and want to see!
Next chapter might take a bit . . . sorry :(