Chapter 3

Jasper hurried along to his next class. He couldn't mask the smile on his face. He saw Alice standing next to the double doors, waiting on him. His grin broadened.

"Hi Ali-Cat"

He bent down and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"Jasper! Alice beamed. "What's gotten into you?"

"Erm...nothing just happy to see you." Jasper laughed nervously.

"Well you had better calm it down. Everybody around you is getting giddy." Alice winked. "I've got to go to class but i'll see you in lunch, love you."

"I love you too, forever and always."

She smiled and danced off to her next class. Jasper was too happy. It would take an army of newborns descending on the school to dampen his mood. He sighed a contented sigh and entered his next class. History.

Jasper sat down next to the door, in case he became in need of a quick get away or the sun decided to show, and got out his text book. It was the middle of the year so the Cullens were supposedly behind. They had needed to transfer after Jasper's most recent 'slip up.' The teacher entered without so much as uttering a word of acknowledgement to his students besides "Turn to page 237."

"Today we will continue discussion on the Civil war."

Jasper's head snapped up and he gripped his text book a little too firmly in his hands. They almost always got the facts wrong when they discussed the Civil war in class. The only part Jasper liked when this topic usually arose was getting to write papers on the subject. Naturally Jasper's papers on the subject were the best.

"Who here can tell me why the Civil War was started?''

A red headed girl with freckles from the back of the class raised her hand.

"Yes miss Telford?"

"Because the South was full of nothing but a bunch of redneck racist cowboys." she snickered.

Jasper ground his teeth together, silently seething. If he gave into his thirst, she would die first.

"Ha ha." Mr. Abbott replied in a sarcastic tone."I think we can do better than that can't we? Anyone?"

No one raised a hand. Mr. Abbott just shook his head. Jasper couldn't stand the idea of that being the last thing said on the subject. How could the children think that? They were so out of touch with their roots. Jasper's hand shot up.

"Oh! Mr. um Cullen was it?"

"It's Hale sir. Jasper Hale."

"Er um yes well Jasper, What started the Civil war?"

Jasper could tell He was expecting some half-assed answer like he probably got from all of his students.

"Well for starters it wasn't just one issue, it was five. Economic and social differences between the North and the South, States versus federal rights, The fight between Slave and Non-Slave State Proponents, Growth of the Abolition Movement, and lastly The election of Abraham Lincoln. Well, those were the main reasons anyway."

Mr. Abbott just blinked a couple times, like he thought he had imagined what he had just heard. The class was dead quiet. Jasper heard a pencil drop somewhere.

"Well, yes...Yes! Those were all arguably reasons! Very good!"

Jasper could feel the excitement coming off the teacher. Jasper imagined if he had Edward's gift he would hear something like: "Finally someone in this class that actually knows something." The red headed girl scoffed and rolled her eyes. Jasper sunk down into his seat. Yes. She would have died first.

"Alright, moving on we all know from last nights reading the two most infamous generals in the Civil war were Grant and Lee...class? Well don't we?"

The class all murmured in unison.

"But i'll bet we can all agree given his besting of Lee, Grant was the better general..."

Jasper crushed the pencil in his hand to splinters.

"I disagree!" Jasper shouted. "As a tactician, he was head and shoulders above Grant. Good defensively, Lee was even better on the offensive. He was bold and decisive, a calculating gambler. Can anyone who has studied the battle of Chancellorsville deny it? He was a wise evaluator of his opponent's capabilities, also. Because of these traits, he won battles one of the measures of a great general. His men loved him and would do anything for him. They fought when they were cold, tired, hungry, and hopeless."

Jasper was rambling now. He tried to reign it in, realizing his outburst was just that, an outburst. Mr. Abbott just stood there slack jawed.

"Though you seem very passionate about the subject Jasper, however good he was, Lee was flawed."

"Yes, sir. I know." Jasper said through gritted teeth.

"And Grant had his good qualities too..."

"Grant was tone deaf, a drunk, and owned slaves..."

"Right so...wait...what?"

The class erupted into laughter. The red head was laughing loudest. Perhaps she wouldn't die after all. He could feel the shock coming off Mr. Abbott. Then it turned to anger.

"Mr. Hale?"

"Yes sir?"

"Where did you say you from?"

The Cullens were supposed to be from Michigan this time around.

"Michigan..."

"Oh..."

Jasper just couldn't help himself though.

"But i'm originally from Texas.."

"Ah! That explains it."

"Explains what sir?"

"What? Nothing. Never mind. Moving ON class..."

I swear to God if that man says anything about the south being a bunch of redneck racist cowboys I may explode. Jasper thought.

"We are going to watch a movie on the war, then I want you to write a paper for tonights home work on the Civil war from the point of view of a solider of your choosing."

Jasper had to stifle a laugh. They ALWAYS either show 'Glory' or 'Gettysburg' and as for POV of a solider well Jasper pretty much had that on lock.

Mr. Abbott popped in the movie and Glory began playing. Ha! thought Jasper. Called it.